In a thrilling encounter at Headingley, the SunRisers Leeds secured their first victory of the season by edging out Southern Brave in a tightly contested match. The game was highlighted by explosive opening performances from Mitchell Marsh and Dan Lawrence, both of whom posted aggressive half‑centuries that set the tone for the host side. Marsh opened the innings with a dazzling display of power hitting, rattling off six sixes and four fours en route to a rapid 69 runs off just 34 deliveries. His on‑slaught provided the early momentum that the SunRisers needed.
Coming in at the other end, Lawrence continued the aggressive approach, remaining unbeaten on 51 runs from a mere 25 balls. Together, their partnership propelled Leeds to a competitive total of 187 for 5, a score that would prove just enough to fend off a determined Brave chase. The SunRisers’ captain, Zak Crawley, was the first wicket to fall, falling for a golden duck to England spinner Adil Rashid. Rashid, who had already claimed the scalps of Marsh and fellow opener Ryan Rickelton (who made 37), took his third wicket of the afternoon with Crawley's dismissal, further tightening the pressure on the opposition.
The Brave’s reply began poorly when Harry Brook was clean‑bowled for just three runs by Marcus Stoinis. However, a quick‑fire 21 from Tom Alsop helped the visitors recover some ground.
Ben McKinney then led the charge with a blistering 44 off 23 balls, while opener Jamie Smith contributed a swift 30 from 18 deliveries. Australian all‑rounder Marcus Stoinis added 31 runs from 16 balls, showcasing his hard‑hitting capabilities. Tristan Stubbs kept the Brave in contention with an unbeaten 43 from only 20 balls, but the SunRisers held firm.
Their lower order added valuable runs, ensuring they crossed the finish line with a margin that secured their inaugural win of the tournament. Meanwhile, Southern Brave remain winless after two matches, highlighting the early struggles they have faced.
In the women’s fixture that ran alongside the men’s game, Southern Brave continued their unbeaten run, defeating SunRisers Leeds by five wickets. Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the chase with an unbeaten 42 from 34 balls, while Australian captain Sophie Molineux added a useful 21 from 17.
Their partnership guided the team to the target of 117 with four balls to spare. For the SunRisers, Bryony Smith’s aggressive 48 off 34 balls – featuring six fours and a six – formed the backbone of their 116‑run total, but it was not enough to withstand the disciplined bowling attack of the Brave. The headline of the day, however, belonged to Rachin Ravindra, who delivered a historic performance for Welsh Fire against MI London at Sophia Gardens.
Ravindra smashed a monumental 98 runs off 44 balls, the joint fourth‑highest individual score ever recorded in the men’s Hundred competition. His innings was a masterclass in power hitting, featuring a flurry of boundaries that left the record crowd in awe.
Ravindra’s knock came on a pitch that seemed to favor his style; he reached his half‑century in just 22 deliveries, dispatching the world‑renowned spinner Rashid Khan over the mid‑wicket fence for his fifty. With Joe Root contributing a steady 29 off 26 balls, Ravindra kept the momentum alive, hammering four sixes in an eight‑ball spell and surpassing Jonny Bairstow’s previous record of 86 not out for a Fire batter. As he approached the coveted century, Ravindra was dismissed on the 98th delivery, caught by Jason Roy off the impressive spell of Trent Boult (1‑16). Despite falling short of the landmark, his innings was pivotal, shifting the balance firmly in Fire’s favour.
MI London’s reply faltered early when Will Jacks fell to Sam Cook. The visitors looked promising at 72‑1 after 46 balls, but Lockie Ferguson turned the tide, claiming two wickets in consecutive deliveries – first dismissing Jason Roy and then removing Sam Curran for a golden duck. Ferguson continued his spell, picking up a third wicket by removing Nicholas Pooran, and later bowled out Tom Curran, cementing his status as a match‑winning bowler. Fire’s bowlers held their nerve in the death overs, with Rutherford finishing unbeaten on 24 from 18 balls, while Ferguson sealed the victory by taking the final wicket.
After the match, Ravindra, dubbed the Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on the achievement: "We know how good the MI London side is and the history and pedigree of their team, and for us to put on a performance on our home ground, the way we played, was fantastic." The women's Hundred also saw Welsh Fire dominate, with Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham leading a commanding 60‑run victory over MI London. After a loss to Southern Brave in their opening match, Fire rebounded by posting 177‑4, the third‑highest total in the tournament’s history. Devine’s explosive 52 from 29 balls and Wareham’s quick‑fire 43 from 20 balls anchored the innings, supported by solid contributions from openers Georgia Voll (42) and Ella McCaughan (27).
Grace Potts then produced a spell of brilliance for MI London, taking three wickets for 24 runs, but it was insufficient as the team collapsed to 117 all out, suffering their second consecutive defeat. Looking ahead, the next day’s double‑header features Manchester Super Giants versus Birmingham Phoenix at Old Trafford, with the women’s match slated for 11 a.m. and the men’s contest beginning at 2.30 p.m.
Later, Trent Rockets will take on London Spirit at Trent Bridge, with the women’s game starting at 2.30 p.m. and the men’s match at 6 p.m. Both fixtures will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and streamed without a contract on NOW, offering fans ample opportunity to catch the action as the Hundred season continues to unfold.