There were four international captains on show in the Women's Hundred on England's south coast and Australia's Sophie Molineux has ended up the happiest.
Molineux did not deliver the best individual performance of the quartet. That came from West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, who took 4-22 in her allocated 20 balls, then made 32 off 28.
But Molineux was on the winning side, playing a key role as skipper and bowler (1-22 off 20) as her Southern Brave franchise maintained their 100 per cent start with a one-run victory over still winless MI London on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt was also playing for the Brave, while New Zealand's skipper Melie Kerr played for MI, though their captain was neither Matthews or Kerr, but Englishwoman Hollie Armitage, who does not lead the national side.
Australia's skipper had missed out with the bat, making four from seven balls as the Brave struggled for late-innings acceleration, but made up for it in the field.
They made a sharp start on Hampshire's large Rosebowl ground with Maia Bouchier (31 off 22) and Jemimah Rodrigues (32 off 22) setting the platform, but failing to kick on.
Molineux came to the crease with the Brave 3-104 off 76 balls, India's Rodrigues having been caught in the deep off Matthews.
The Victorian took three balls to get off the mark as she sought to give the strike to Wolvaardt. But the South African (35 off 30) was bowled soon after by a well-flighted googly from Kerr (1-21 off 20 balls).
That left Molineux to take the lead, but she could only eke out two singles off international teammate Nicola Carey before being stumped charging Matthews.
Carey, closing out the innings, took 1-18 off her 20 including a quicksilver stumping by Kira Chatli as the Brave failed to score off the last four balls.
Sophie Molineux delivering when it matters most!
— The Hundred (@thehundred) July 27, 2026
MI London require 8 runs from 5 balls 🫨#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/WEvzslsjIg
Their final tally of 7-126 offered hope to the visitors, who are half-owned by Mumbai Indians following the opening up of the competition to outside investment.
Brave are themselves owned by the parent company of Delhi Capitals, but have retained their name.
Molineux bowled the second set of five, offering her a chance to gain revenge against Matthews, but was cut for an early four. She brought herself back periodically as she shrewdly rotated the bowlers, keeping MI mostly just behind the clock.
After a tight set from Izzy Wong left MI needing 15 off 10, Molineux returned for her final stint and bowled Chinelle Henry (two) with an inswinging yorker.
That brought in Carey who reverse-swept for two and paddled for four, but MI still needed eight off the last five balls, bowled by Lauren Bell.
England teammate Danni Wyatt-Hodge (52no off 42) and Australian Carey (eight not out off five) scampered hard but the boundary they needed proved elusive.
