In a tightly contested showdown at Headingley, the SunRisers Leeds secured their inaugural victory of the season by edging out Southern Brave in a thrilling encounter. The match was highlighted by explosive half‑centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Dan Lawrence, who together set a formidable target for the visitors. Marsh opened the innings with a dazzling display of power hitting, launching 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 Brave bowlers and allowing his side to build momentum. Following Marsh's dismissal, Lawrence took charge, remaining unbeaten on 51 off only 25 balls.
His swift scoring helped lift the SunRisers to a competitive total of 187 for 5, a score that would prove decisive. SunRisers captain Zak Crawley was unfortunately dismissed for a golden duck, falling victim to England spinner Adil Rashid, who claimed his third wicket of the day after previously removing both Marsh and fellow opener Ryan Rickelton (who had contributed 37). Rashid’s spell was a key moment, but the SunRisers recovered quickly.
In response, Southern Brave’s Harry Brook was clean bowled for just three runs by Marcus Stoinis, further denting their chase. However, Lawrence’s earlier heroics, combined with a rapid 21 from Tom Alsop, kept the SunRisers in a strong position as the innings drew to a close. For Brave, Ben McKinney provided a bright start, smashing 44 runs off 23 balls.
His aggressive intent was supported by fellow opener Jamie Smith, who added 30 from 18 deliveries, and Australian all‑rounder Marcus Stoinis, who contributed a quickfire 31 off 16 balls. The middle order also saw Tristan Stubbs remain unbeaten on 43 from 20 balls, keeping the visitors within touching distance of the target.
Ultimately, the home side held firm, clinching their first win of the tournament, while Southern Brave continued to search for their first victory after two matches. In the women's fixture that followed, Southern Brave completed a double victory by 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, guiding the team to the required 117 runs with four balls to spare. For SunRisers, Bryony Smith’s brisk 48 off 34 balls—featuring six fours and a six—provided a solid platform for their total of 116, but it was not enough to withstand Brave’s disciplined bowling attack.
The tournament’s excitement continued with Welsh Fire’s Rachin Ravindra delivering a historic performance against MI London at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens. Ravindra compiled a near‑century, scoring 98 runs off 44 balls, which ranks as the joint fourth‑highest individual score in the men’s competition’s history. His innings propelled Welsh Fire to a 15‑run win in front of a record‑breaking crowd.
Ravindra’s knock was a masterclass in power hitting; he reached his half‑century in just 22 balls, dispatching Rashid Khan over the mid‑wicket boundary for his fifty. Partnering him, Joe Root contributed 29 from 26 balls, but Ravindra continued to dominate, striking four sixes in an eight‑ball spell and surpassing Jonny Bairstow’s previous record of 86 not out for a Fire batter. The innings climaxed when Ravindra was dismissed on 98, caught and bowled by Jason Roy off a superb delivery from Trent Boult (who recorded figures of 1 for 16).
His dismissal came on the 98th ball of the innings, just shy of the coveted century, but his impact was already decisive. MI London’s reply faltered early when Will Jacks fell to Sam Cook. Nevertheless, they recovered to 72 for 1 after 46 deliveries, only to be rattled by Lockie Ferguson, who claimed two wickets in consecutive balls—first removing Jason Roy, then delivering a golden‑duck dismissal of Sam Curran.
Ferguson continued his spell, taking the wicket of Nicholas Pooran, while Ravindra’s earlier brilliance had already shifted the balance. In the death overs, Welsh Fire’s bowlers displayed composure. Rutherford finished unbeaten on 24 from 18 balls, and Ferguson completed the demolition by clean‑bowling Tom Curran, securing the team’s second win of the campaign. 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 side of the competition also saw Welsh Fire dominate, with Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham leading a commanding performance that saw them beat MI London by 60 runs at Sophia Gardens.
After an opening loss to Southern Brave, Fire rebounded strongly, posting 177 for 4—the third‑highest total ever recorded in the tournament. Captain Devine contributed 52 from 29 balls, while Wareham added 43 from 20. Opening batters Georgia Voll and Ella McCaughan supplied solid starts with 42 and 27 runs respectively. The Fire’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Grace Potts who claimed three wickets for 24 runs, dismantled MI London’s batting line‑up, restricting them to 117 all out for their second consecutive defeat.
Looking ahead, the next double‑header on Sunday will feature Manchester Super Giants versus Birmingham Phoenix at Old Trafford, with the women’s game slated for 11 a.m. and the men’s match beginning at 2:30 p.m. Later, Trent Rockets will take on London Spirit at Trent Bridge, with the women’s fixture at 2:30 p.m.
and the men’s contest at 6 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on Sky Sports and available contract‑free via NOW, offering fans continued high‑octane action from The Hundred.