The 2026 season of The Hundred is now entering its decisive phase, with the final knockout positions up for grabs in both the men's and women's tournaments. The race to the finals at Lord's on Sunday, August 16, is heating up, and every team knows exactly what they must achieve to stay alive. In both competitions, the team that tops its group after the eight round‑robin matches earns an automatic place in the championship final. The second‑ and third‑placed sides will then clash in an eliminator at The Kia Oval on Friday, August 14.
The victor of that match joins the group leader at Lord's for the title showdown. At this juncture, each side has completed six of its eight fixtures, and the picture is beginning to crystalise.
In the men's league, London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix have already been consigned to elimination, their hopes of reaching the final extinguished. Meanwhile, the Trent Rockets have surged ahead, sitting alone at the summit with 20 points after five wins from six games. Their five‑game winning streak has given them a four‑point cushion over the chasing pack, putting them in a commanding position as the season draws to a close.
The battle for the remaining two eliminator spots, however, is far from settled and is becoming increasingly congested. SunRisers Leeds have climbed to second place on net run‑rate after a dominant victory over Birmingham Phoenix on Friday night, but they share the same 16 points as MI London and Welsh Fire. Net run‑rate, the cricket equivalent of football’s goal difference, is calculated by subtracting the average runs conceded per 100 balls from the average runs scored per 100 balls across all matches. This metric will be crucial in separating teams that finish on equal points.
Manchester Super Giants remain very much in contention, sitting just four points behind the leaders with 12 points and two games left to play. Their upcoming match against Southern Brave on Saturday is effectively a must‑win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Southern Brave, currently on eight points after six games, are still technically in the mix but face a daunting path: they must win both of their remaining fixtures and rely on a cascade of favorable results elsewhere.
The recent win by SunRisers Leeds over Birmingham Phoenix not only revitalised Leeds' own qualification chances but also knocked three teams out of the running in a single stroke. The loss sent Phoenix, London Spirit and MI London tumbling out of the women's competition, leaving them stranded at the bottom of the table with just six points after six matches.
This dramatic swing illustrates how quickly fortunes can change in The Hundred’s tightly contested format. In the women's league, the top two spots are practically locked in. Trent Rockets sit atop the table with 20 points, while Southern Brave sit comfortably in second place, also on 20 points after six games. Their upcoming Monday clash at Trent Bridge will essentially decide who claims the outright top‑seed and proceeds straight to the final, sparing that side the risk of an eliminator.
The loser, meanwhile, will have to battle through the knockout round. Below the leaders, SunRisers Leeds and Welsh Fire are locked in a tense duel for the third spot, each holding 12 points. Manchester Super Giants sit just above them on 14 points, meaning a win in their final two matches could catapult them into the top three.
The upcoming Sunday fixture between Leeds and Welsh Fire is likely to be a decisive encounter; the loser could see their campaign end, while the winner will keep the door to the eliminator ajar. To summarise the schedule for the final stretch: - Saturday, August 8: MI London vs Trent Rockets at The Kia Oval (women’s 11:00 am, men’s 2:30 pm); Southern Brave vs Manchester Super Giants at the Utilita Bowl (women’s 2:30 pm, men’s 6:00 pm).
- Sunday, August 9: SunRisers Leeds vs Welsh Fire at Headingley (women’s 11:00 am, men’s 2:30 pm); London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix at Lord’s (women’s 2:30 pm, men’s 6:00 pm). - Monday, August 10: Trent Rockets vs Southern Brave at Trent Bridge (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:30 pm).
- Tuesday, August 11: Manchester Super Giants vs SunRisers Leeds at Emirates Old Trafford (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:00 pm). - Wednesday, August 12: Welsh Fire vs London Spirit at Sophia Gardens (women’s 11:30 am, men’s 3:00 pm); Birmingham Phoenix vs MI London at Edgbaston (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:30 pm). - Friday, August 14: Eliminators (women’s 2:15 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) – with a reserve day on Saturday, August 15.
- Sunday, August 16: Finals (women’s 2:15 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) – reserve day Monday, August 17. Fans can catch every match live on the NOW platform, which offers contract‑free streaming of The Hundred through to the final. As the season reaches its climax, the stakes could not be higher: teams must balance aggressive play with strategic use of net run‑rate, and every ball will count in the pursuit of a coveted place at Lord’s.
The final weeks promise thrilling cricket, nail‑biting finishes, and the inevitable drama that defines The Hundred’s unique, fast‑paced format.