Sports fans watch on as Britain experiences fullest solar eclipse since 1999

Cricket fans at Edgbaston were among sporting spectators given a stunning view of Wednesday evening's partial solar eclipse.The sky took on an eerie darkness as the Moon obscured more than 90 per cent of the Sun, leaving only a slim crescent of light visible. Spectators watching Birmingham Phoenix face MI London in The Hundred were able to take in the spectacle from the stands, with many wearing special glasses. The eclipse was the fullest above British skies since the total eclipse in 1999.Today's cricket scorecards: The Hundred and moreThe Hundred - latest men's and women's tables for 2026Watch The Hundred and more sport contract-free on NOW Image: Many fans watched on at Edgbaston through special glasses Other sporting events also took place against the unusual backdrop. Floodlights were turned on in anticipation at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Small groups, including Swedish athletes Erika Warff and Tilde Bjerager, gathered outside Alexander Stadium to observe the phenomenon, congregating on both sides of the terrace below the west stand. Also See: Latest men's and women's Hundred tables Stream The Hundred and more with NOW Latest Hundred videos and key moments When is The Hundred live on Sky Sports? Image: Floodlights at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham were also on in anticipation of the eclipse Some were prepared with protective paper glasses while others watched through their phone cameras, although the rare occurrence was already obscured by clouds when it peaked at around 7.15pm.In Salzburg, football fans attending the UEFA Super Cup between Aston Villa and European champions Paris St Germain also gazed skywards. Image: Football fans watched on at the UEFA Super Cup match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. The eclipse took place around half an hour before kick-off in the Austrian city.Watch every match of The Hundred through to the finals on Sunday August 16. Stream contract-free on NOW.