In a tightly contested showdown at Headingley, SunRisers Leeds finally broke their winless streak by edging past Southern Brave, thanks to a pair of explosive half‑centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Dan Lawrence. Marsh opened the innings with a blistering display, launching six sixes and four fours to accumulate 69 runs from just 34 deliveries. His aggressive approach set the tone for the innings, allowing the host side to climb to a competitive total of 187 for 5, bolstered further by Lawrence’s unbeaten 51 off a mere 25 balls.
The partnership between the two openers proved decisive, as they together supplied the firepower needed to outpace the opposition in a low‑scoring encounter. SunRisers captain Zak Crawley, however, fell early, dismissed for a golden duck by England spinner Adil Rashid, who was already making an impact by removing both Marsh and fellow opener Ryan Rickelton (who had contributed 37). Rashid’s spell continued to trouble the visitors, claiming his third wicket of the day.
The momentum shifted when Marcus Stoinis clean bowled Harry Brook for just three runs, further denting Brave’s chase. Yet Brave’s response was not without merit; Ben McKinney provided a rapid 44 off 23 balls, while Jamie Smith added a brisk 30 from 18 deliveries. Australian all‑rounder Stoinis also made a notable contribution, striking 31 runs from only 16 balls.
Tristan Stubbs kept the visitors within touching distance with an unbeaten 43 off 20 balls, but the SunRisers’ finishing burst, highlighted by a quickfire 21 from Tom Alsop, ensured they held on for a narrow victory, marking their first win of the season while Brave remained winless after two games. The women's fixture saw Southern Brave continue their unbeaten run, securing a second win by taking five wickets against SunRisers Leeds.
Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the chase with an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls, while Australian captain Sophie Molineux added a useful 21 from 17 deliveries. Their partnership guided the team to the target of 117 with four balls to spare.
For SunRisers, Bryony Smith’s aggressive 48 off 34 balls – featuring six fours and a six – formed the backbone of their total of 116, but it was not enough to prevent a Brave triumph. In another headline‑making performance, Welsh Fire’s rising star Rachin Ravindra produced a near‑century that ranks as the joint fourth‑highest individual score in the history of the men’s Hundred.
Facing MI London at Sophia Gardens in front of a record crowd, Ravindra smashed 98 runs off 44 balls, propelling Fire to a 15‑run victory. His innings was a masterclass in power hitting; he reached his fifty in just 22 deliveries, dispatching Rashid Khan over mid‑wicket for the milestone. Supported by Joe Root’s steady 29 off 26 balls, Ravindra unleashed a flurry of sixes – four in an eight‑ball spell – and surpassed Jonny Bairstow’s previous record for the highest Fire score. Although he fell just short of a century, being caught on the 98th ball by Jason Roy off Trent Boult’s impressive 1‑16 spell, his impact was undeniable.
The chase for MI London began poorly as Will Jacks fell early to Sam Cook. Nevertheless, the visitors recovered to 72‑1 after 46 deliveries, only to be rocked by Lockie Ferguson’s back‑to‑back wickets, which removed both Jason Roy and Sam Curran for a golden duck. Ferguson continued his dominance, claiming the wicket of Nicholas Pooran and later dismissing the dangerous James Vince (who had made 66 off 38) with a caught‑and‑bowled that turned the match in Fire’s favour. In the final overs, Rutherford (24 not out from 18 balls) and Ferguson held their nerve, with Ferguson sealing the win by dismissing Tom Curran, delivering Fire’s second victory of the campaign.
Ravindra, hailed as the Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on the achievement, noting the quality of the MI London side and the pride of performing so well on home soil. The women's Hundred also featured a dominant display from Welsh Fire, as captain Sophie Devine and fast bowler Georgia Wareham led the team to a 60‑run win over MI London. After a loss in their opening match, Fire rebounded with a formidable total of 177‑4, the third‑highest score in tournament history.
Devine’s 52 off 29 balls and Wareham’s 43 off 20 provided the backbone, while openers Georgia Voll and Ella McCaughan contributed 42 and 27 respectively. MI London’s chase crumbled under the pressure, bowled out for 117, with Grace Potts claiming three wickets for 24 runs. Looking ahead, the Hundred’s double‑header on Sunday will see Manchester Super Giants take on Birmingham Phoenix at Old Trafford, with the women’s game kicking off at 11 am and the men’s match following at 2:30 pm.
Later, Trent Rockets will face London Spirit at Trent Bridge, with the women’s fixture beginning at 2:30 pm and the men’s contest slated for 6 pm. Both matches will be streamed live on Sky Sports and available contract‑free on NOW, offering fans ample opportunity to catch the action across the weekend.