The 2026 season of The Hundred is now entering its decisive phase, with the knockout places in both the men’s and women’s tournaments up for grabs. Fans are eager to know which sides will clinch those coveted slots and what each team must achieve in the remaining fixtures to keep their hopes alive. At the conclusion of the eight group‑stage matches, the team that tops each table – men’s and women’s – automatically earns a place in the final at Lord’s on Sunday, 16 August.
The second‑ and third‑placed sides will then contest an eliminator at The Kia Oval on Friday, 14 August. The winners of those eliminators will join the table‑toppers in the championship match.
As the league phase draws to a close, the picture is becoming clearer. Every franchise has now completed at least six games, and three teams – London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave – have already been knocked out of contention. Trent Rockets have secured their place in the knockout stage after a dominant performance on Saturday that lifted them to 24 points, four points clear of the nearest rival. Their sixth win in seven matches came against MI London, and a victory in their final group game against Southern Brave on Monday would lock in an automatic berth in the final.
The battle for the remaining two eliminator spots is far more intricate. SunRisers Leeds have surged into second place on net run‑rate after a convincing win over Birmingham Phoenix on Friday night.
They sit level on 16 points with MI London, Welsh Fire and Manchester Super Giants. The Super Giants eliminated Southern Brave with a ten‑run triumph on Saturday, leaving the race even tighter. Both Welsh Fire and SunRisers still have two games left, and they face each other at Headingley on Sunday.
That encounter will be pivotal – a win for either side could be the decisive factor in securing an eliminator berth. Meanwhile, MI London will likely need to defeat bottom‑placed Phoenix at Edgbaston on Wednesday to keep any realistic chance of reaching the Friday eliminator. Manchester Super Giants also face a must‑win scenario in their final group match against SunRisers Leeds on Tuesday at Emirates Old Trafford. A victory would boost their points tally and improve their chances of finishing in the top three.
Net run‑rate, the tiebreaker used in The Hundred, works much like goal difference in football. It is calculated by taking the average number of runs a team scores per 100 balls across all matches and subtracting the average number of runs they concede per 100 balls. This metric is currently separating teams that are level on points.
Trent Rockets, sitting atop the table with 24 points, confirmed their knockout qualification after a nine‑wicket win over already‑eliminated MI London on Saturday. If they defeat second‑placed Southern Brave in their final group match, they will secure an outright spot in the final.
Southern Brave, who missed the chance to draw level with the Rockets after a 27‑run loss to Manchester Super Giants on Saturday, now need a comprehensive victory at Trent Bridge to overtake the Rockets and improve their odds of playing in the eliminator. The Super Giants appear the most likely opponents for the Brave after their win at the Utilita Bowl on Saturday gave them a six‑point cushion in third place over SunRisers Leeds. However, SunRisers still have a game in hand – their clash with Welsh Fire on Sunday – which could reshape the standings.
Both SunRisers Leeds and Welsh Fire sit on 12 points with two matches remaining. A defeat for either side in their upcoming fixtures would effectively end their knockout aspirations. In summary, the knockout picture looks like this: Trent Rockets are already through, Southern Brave need a big win to stay in contention, SunRisers Leeds, Welsh Fire, MI London and Manchester Super Giants are all still fighting for the two remaining eliminator spots, while London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix and MI London have been eliminated. The final round of group matches is scheduled as follows: - Sunday, 9 August: SunRisers Leeds vs Welsh Fire at Headingley (women’s 11:00 am, men’s 2:30 pm) - Sunday, 9 August: London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix at Lord’s (women’s 2:30 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) - Monday, 10 August: Trent Rockets vs Southern Brave at Trent Bridge (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:30 pm) - Tuesday, 11 August: Manchester Super Giants vs SunRisers Leeds at Emirates Old Trafford (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) - Wednesday, 12 August: Welsh Fire vs London Spirit at Sophia Gardens (women’s 11:30 am, men’s 3:00 pm) - Wednesday, 12 August: Birmingham Phoenix vs MI London at Edgbaston (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) The eliminators are set for Friday, 14 August (women’s 2:15 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) with a reserve day on Saturday, 15 August.
The finals will take place on Sunday, 16 August (women’s 2:15 pm, men’s 6:00 pm) with a reserve day on Monday, 17 August. All matches, right through to the final, will be streamed live on NOW, offering fans a contract‑free way to follow every crucial moment of The Hundred’s thrilling conclusion.