In a tightly contested match at Headingley, the SunRisers Leeds secured their first victory of the season by edging out Southern Brave in a thrilling finish. The opening partnership of Mitchell Marsh and Dan Lawrence proved decisive, each delivering powerful half‑centuries that set the tone for the home side.
Marsh opened the innings with a blistering display, hammering six sixes and four fours to compile 69 runs from just 34 deliveries. His aggressive approach put immediate pressure on the opposition bowlers and helped the SunRisers post a competitive total. Following Marsh’s dismissal, Lawrence stepped in and remained unbeaten on 51 runs off only 25 balls, guiding Leeds to a final score of 187 for 5.
The Brave’s response began poorly when their captain, Zak Crawley, was dismissed for a golden duck. England spinner Adil Rashid claimed his third wicket of the afternoon, having earlier removed both Marsh and fellow opener Ryan Rickelton, who had contributed 37 runs. The early setbacks forced Brave into a chase that required a steady rebuilding effort. Harry Brook fell cheaply, clean bowled for three by Marcus Stoinis, but the SunRisers continued to add valuable runs.
Lawrence’s quickfire 51 and a rapid 21 from Tom Alsop helped Leeds finish strongly, ensuring a respectable total. For Southern Brave, Ben McKinney led the way with a brisk 44 off 23 balls, while opener Jamie Smith added 30 from 18 deliveries. Australian all‑rounder Marcus Stoinis contributed a quick 31 off 16 balls, and Tristan Stubbs kept the visitors in contention with an unbeaten 43 from just 20 balls.
Despite these efforts, the Brave could not chase down the target and remained winless after two matches, while the SunRisers celebrated their inaugural win of the tournament. In the women's fixture, Southern Brave continued their perfect start, defeating SunRisers Leeds by five wickets. Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the chase with an unbeaten 42 from 34 balls, and Australian captain Sophie Molineux added a useful 21 from 17.
The visitors comfortably chased down 117 runs with four balls to spare. For the SunRisers, Bryony Smith’s aggressive 48 off 34 balls—featuring six fours and a six—had set a solid platform, but it was not enough to secure victory. Turning to the men's competition, Welsh Fire delivered a historic performance at Sophia Gardens, with Rachin Ravindra producing the joint fourth‑highest score ever recorded in The Hundred.
Ravindra’s 98 runs from 44 balls propelled Fire to a 15‑run win over MI London in front of a record‑breaking crowd in Cardiff. The Oval‑based franchise, which has dominated the men’s competition for the past three summers, saw its star‑studded bowling attack unable to contain Ravindra’s on‑fire batting.
Ravindra’s innings was a masterclass in power hitting. He reached his half‑century in just 22 balls, finishing the milestone by dispatching Rashid Khan over the mid‑wicket boundary. Partnering him, Joe Root contributed a steady 29 from 26 balls, but the real fireworks came from Ravindra, who struck four sixes in an eight‑ball burst, surpassing Jonny Bairstow’s previous record for the highest individual score by a Fire batter. As the innings progressed, Ravindra continued to dominate, eventually falling just short of a century at 98 runs.
He was caught on the 98th delivery, a catch taken by Jason Roy off the impressive spell of Trent Boult (1‑16). Despite missing the landmark, his innings had already set the foundation for Fire’s victory. MI London’s reply began poorly when Will Jacks was dismissed early by Sam Cook.
However, the visitors recovered to 72‑1 after 46 deliveries, thanks to solid contributions from the top order. The momentum shifted dramatically when Lockie Ferguson produced a double strike, removing both Jason Roy and Sam Curran for a golden duck in consecutive balls. Ferguson then claimed his third wicket, dismissing the dangerous Nicholas Pooran, further tightening the grip on MI London’s chase. Ravindra’s impact extended beyond his batting; he also delivered a crucial wicket, catching and bowling James Vince (66 from 38) at a pivotal moment.
Fire’s bowlers maintained composure in the death overs, with Rutherford finishing unbeaten on 24 from 18 balls, and Ferguson sealing the win by clean‑bowling Tom Curran. The result marked Fire’s second win of the campaign, reinforcing their status as a formidable force in the competition. After the match, 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." In the women’s Hundred, Welsh Fire continued their dominance with a commanding 60‑run victory over MI London at Sophia Gardens. Captain Sophie Devine led the charge with a rapid 52 from 29 balls, while Georgia Wareham added 43 off 20.
Opening batters Georgia Voll and Ella McCaughan contributed 42 and 27 respectively, helping Fire post 177‑4—the third‑highest total in tournament history. Grace Potts then shone with the ball, taking three wickets for 24 runs as MI London collapsed to 117 all out, suffering their second consecutive defeat. The win underscored Fire’s balanced strength in both batting and bowling departments.
Looking ahead, the next round of The Hundred features a double‑header on Sunday. Manchester Super Giants will face Birmingham Phoenix at Old Trafford, with the women’s match kicking off at 11 am and the men’s fixture scheduled for 2:30 pm.
Later, Trent Rockets take on London Spirit at Trent Bridge, with the women’s game 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 extensive coverage of the tournament’s ongoing drama.