In a tightly contested encounter at Headingley, the SunRisers Leeds secured their first victory of the season by edging out Southern Brave. The match was highlighted by explosive half‑centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Dan Lawrence, who together steered the home side to a total of 187 for 5.
Marsh opened the innings with a blistering display, striking six sixes and four fours as he amassed 69 runs from just 34 deliveries. His aggressive approach set the tone early, putting pressure on the opposition bowlers. Following his dismissal, Lawrence took charge, remaining unbeaten on 51 off 25 balls. His quick‑fire cameo helped the SunRisers reach a competitive score and provided a solid platform for the later overs.
The opposition captain, Zak Crawley, was dismissed for a golden duck, falling victim to England spinner Adil Rashid, who claimed his third wicket of the afternoon after earlier removing both Marsh and fellow opener Ryan Rickelton, who had contributed 37 runs. Rashid’s spell was a key factor in limiting the Brave’s chase. Harry Brook was clean bowled for three by Marcus Stoinis, but the SunRisers continued to build momentum.
Lawrence’s steady scoring, combined with a rapid 21 from Tom Alsop, ensured the hosts finished strongly, ultimately posting 187‑5. In response, Brave’s Ben McKinney led the charge with a quickfire 44 off 23 balls, while opener Jamie Smith added 30 from 18 deliveries. Australian all‑rounder Marcus Stoinis contributed 31 runs from just 16 balls, showcasing his power‑hitting abilities.
Tristan Stubbs kept the visitors in contention with an unbeaten 43 off 20 balls, but despite the flurry of runs, the Brave fell short, handing SunRisers their inaugural win of the tournament while Southern Brave remained winless after two matches. The women's fixture saw Southern Brave claim a second consecutive victory, defeating SunRisers Leeds by five wickets. Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the chase with an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls, while Australian captain Sophie Molineux added 21 from 17, guiding the side to the target of 117 with four balls to spare.
For the SunRisers, Bryony Smith’s rapid 48 from 34 balls, which featured six fours and a six, formed the backbone of their total of 116. In a separate high‑profile match at Sophia Gardens, Welsh Fire’s Rachin Ravindra produced a near‑century, scoring 98 from 44 balls – the joint fourth‑highest individual score in the history of the men’s Hundred.
His innings propelled Fire to a 15‑run win over MI London in front of a record crowd in Cardiff. The Oval‑based franchise, which has dominated the competition for the past three summers, found their bowling attack unable to contain Ravindra’s on‑fire performance. After reaching his half‑century in just 22 balls – a milestone he achieved by dispatching Rashid Khan over the mid‑wicket boundary – Ravindra accelerated further, hitting four sixes in an eight‑ball spell and surpassing Jonny Bairstow’s previous record for the highest score by a Fire batter. Joe Root contributed a steady 29 from 26 balls, playing a supporting role while Ravindra continued his onslaught, eventually falling just short of the coveted century.
He was caught on the 98th delivery, a spectacular catch taken by Jason Roy off the impressive figures of Trent Boult (1‑16). Despite his dismissal, Ravindra’s innings had already set the tone, and Fire’s bowlers defended the total with composure. Early wickets fell as Will Jacks was dismissed by Sam Cook, but the side recovered to 72‑1 after 46 deliveries. Lockie Ferguson then struck twice in consecutive balls, removing both Jason Roy and Sam Curran for a golden duck.
Ferguson’s third wicket came when he dismissed Nicholas Pooran, further tightening the pressure on MI London. Ravindra later produced a piece of magic by catching and bowling James Vince, a pivotal wicket that swung the match in Fire’s favour. In the final overs, Rutherford (24 not out from 18 balls) and Ferguson (clean‑up of Tom Curran) held their nerve, securing Fire’s second win of the campaign.
Reflecting on the performance, Ravindra, dubbed the Meerkat Match Hero, said, "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 featured a dominant display from Welsh Fire, with Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham leading the charge to a 60‑run victory over MI London. After a loss to Southern Brave in their opening game, Fire rebounded by posting 177‑4, the third‑highest total in tournament history. Devine’s 52 from 29 balls and Wareham’s 43 from 20 balls anchored the innings, supported by openers Georgia Voll (42) and Ella McCaughan (27). Grace Potts then claimed three wickets for 24 runs, dismantling MI London’s batting line‑up as they were bowled out for 117, suffering their second consecutive defeat.
Looking ahead, the next 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 a.m. and the men's match slated for 2:30 p.m. Later, Trent Rockets will face London Spirit at Trent Bridge, with the women’s fixture beginning at 2:30 p.m. and the men’s contest starting at 6 p.m.
Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can also stream The Hundred and additional content on NOW, offering contract‑free viewing for a wider audience.