Mitchell Marsh and Dan Lawrence delivered crushing half‑centuries as SunRisers Leeds edged out Southern Brave in a nail‑biting showdown at Headingley, clinching their inaugural victory of the season. Marsh opened the innings with a flamboyant display, hammering six sixes and four fours to reach 69 runs off just 34 deliveries. His aggressive start set the tone, but it was Lawrence who anchored the chase, remaining unbeaten on 51 from a rapid 25 balls, propelling the hosts to a competitive total of 187 for 5.
The SunRisers’ captain, Zak Crawley, was dismissed for a golden duck, falling 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 early breakthroughs kept the pressure on Leeds, but the middle order responded with vigor.
In the subsequent spell, Marcus Stoinis bowled Harry Brook cleanly for three runs, yet Lawrence’s momentum continued. A quickfire 21 from Tom Alsop added valuable runs, allowing SunRisers to finish strongly. For the visitors, Ben McKinney led the charge with a blistering 44 off 23 balls, while opener Jamie Smith contributed 30 from 18 deliveries.
Australian all‑rounder Stoinis added 31 off 16, and Tristan Stubbs kept the chase alive with an unbeaten 43 from just 20 balls. Despite a spirited effort, Brave could not overturn the deficit, leaving them winless after two games, while SunRisers celebrated their first triumph of the campaign. In the women's fixture, Southern Brave secured a second consecutive win, dispatching SunRisers Leeds with a five‑wicket victory. Jemimah Rodrigues remained unbeaten on 42 from 34 balls, and Australian captain Sophie Molineux added 21 from 17, guiding the visitors to chase down a modest target of 117 with four balls to spare.
SunRisers’ Bryony Smith had earlier posted a solid 48 off 34 balls, featuring six fours and a six, to set a total of 116. The men’s tournament also featured a standout performance from Rachin Ravindra, who recorded the joint‑fourth highest score ever in the competition, leading Welsh Fire to a 15‑run win over MI London in front of a record‑breaking crowd at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
The Oval‑based franchise, which has dominated the men’s Hundred for the past three summers, saw its formidable bowling attack humbled by Ravindra’s 98 runs off 44 balls. After reaching his half‑century in just 22 deliveries—capped by a boundary over the mid‑wicket line off Rashid Khan—Ravindra accelerated, striking four sixes within an eight‑ball spell and surpassing Jonny Bairstow’s previous record of 86 not out for a Fire batter. Joe Root contributed a steady 29 from 26 balls before Ravindra continued his on‑fire display, eventually falling just short of a century at 98, caught on the 98th delivery by Jason Roy off the superb figures of Trent Boult (1‑16). The innings was a masterclass in power hitting and timing, leaving the Sophia Gardens audience in awe.
MI London’s reply began poorly as Will Jacks was dismissed early by Sam Cook. However, the visitors recovered to 72‑1 after 46 balls, only for Lockie Ferguson to unleash a double strike, removing both Jason Roy and Sam Curran (the latter for a golden duck) in consecutive deliveries.
Ferguson’s third wicket came when he dismissed Nicholas Pooran, tightening the pressure on MI London. Ravindra then produced a moment of brilliance, catching and bowling James Vince (66 from 38) at a crucial juncture, shifting the momentum decisively in Fire’s favour. In the death overs, Rutherford (24 not out from 18 balls) and Ferguson combined to seal the win, with Ferguson finishing with a tidy 2‑26 spell.
Ravindra, hailed as 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 powerful batting display that sent MI London tumbling by 60 runs at Sophia Gardens. After a loss to Southern Brave in their opening match, Fire rebounded emphatically, posting 177‑4—the third‑highest total in tournament history. Devine smashed 52 from 29 balls, while Wareham added 43 from 20.
Openers Georgia Voll and Ella McCaughan contributed 42 and 27 respectively, providing a solid platform. Grace Potts then claimed three wickets for 24 runs, dismantling MI London’s chase, which collapsed to 117 all out, marking their second consecutive defeat.
Looking ahead, the next double‑header on Sunday features Manchester Super Giants versus Birmingham Phoenix at Old Trafford, with the women's game slated for 11 a.m. and the men's match at 2:30 p.m. Later, Trent Rockets will take on London Spirit at Trent Bridge, with the women's fixture beginning at 2:30 p.m. and the men's contest at 6 p.m.
Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can stream The Hundred and additional content on NOW, free of contractual obligations.