The 2026 season of The Hundred has entered its decisive phase, with the knockout positions now firmly in place for both the men's and women's brackets. After eight rounds of group play, the top three teams in each competition have emerged, securing their places in the concluding stages of the tournament. The teams that finished at the summit of their respective tables have already booked a direct berth in the championship match at Lord's, scheduled for Sunday, August 16.
Meanwhile, the squads that ended up second and third will clash in the eliminator fixtures at The Kia Oval on Friday, August 14, with the victors of those contests earning the right to join the finalists. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how the standings unfolded: In the men's division, only two matches remained when the final table was confirmed, and it became clear that the Trent Rockets had clinched the top spot. Their consistent performances across the group stage meant they secured the automatic final berth, leaving them to await their opponent on the hallowed ground of Lord's. The Manchester Super Giants, meanwhile, earned a place in the eliminator after delivering a commanding win over SunRisers Leeds on Tuesday.
The triumph was significant not just for the margin but also for its impact on the standings. By chasing down a modest target of 128 runs with 33 balls to spare, the Super Giants matched SunRisers on 20 points but edged ahead on net run rate, the tie‑breaker used in The Hundred to separate teams level on points. Net run rate is calculated by subtracting the average runs conceded per 100 balls from the average runs scored per 100 balls across all matches, much like goal difference in football. If SunRisers Leeds had managed to win that encounter, they would have overtaken the Rockets for first place and secured a direct final slot.
Instead, the heavy defeat left them vulnerable to slipping into third, which meant they would still have a chance to progress via the eliminator. Defending champions MI London, who have dominated the competition for the past three seasons, found themselves in fourth place heading into their final group match. To leapfrog SunRisers Leeds and claim the third spot, they needed a victory margin of at least 59 runs against Birmingham Phoenix. In a tightly contested game, MI London managed only a two‑run win, which was insufficient to alter the hierarchy, leaving them just outside the knockout zone.
On the women's side, the Trent Rockets also topped the table, amassing 28 points from their eight group games. Their ascent to the summit was sealed with a three‑wicket win over Southern Brave, who were second at the time. This result sent Southern Brave to the eliminator, where they will face SunRisers Leeds.
SunRisers Leeds secured their own eliminator berth with a dominant 41‑run victory over Manchester Super Giants at Emirates Old Trafford. That win not only propelled them into second place but also eliminated the Super Giants from contention in the women's competition. The upcoming eliminator fixtures are set as follows: - Friday, August 14, at the Kia Oval: Southern Brave (women) versus SunRisers Leeds at 2:15 pm, followed by Manchester Super Giants (men) versus SunRisers Leeds at 6:00 pm.
A reserve day is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, should any match be affected by weather. - Sunday, August 16, at Lord's: the women's final will see Trent Rockets take on a yet‑to‑be‑determined opponent at 2:15 pm, while the men's final will feature Trent Rockets against their own eliminator winner at 6:00 pm. A reserve day is also allocated for Monday, August 17. Fans can continue to follow the action live on NOW, which offers contract‑free streaming of The Hundred and additional sports content.
For those seeking the latest updates, highlights, and analysis, Sky Sports provides a dedicated WhatsApp channel and a suite of video resources, best viewed in the Chrome browser for optimal accessibility. In summary, the pathway to the finals is now clearly mapped: Trent Rockets head straight to Lord's in both the men's and women's tournaments, while Southern Brave, SunRisers Leeds, Manchester Super Giants and the men's SunRisers will battle it out in the eliminators for the remaining slots. The stakes are high, the venues iconic, and the excitement palpable as the 2026 edition of The Hundred approaches its climactic conclusion.