The 2026 season of The Hundred has entered its decisive phase, with the knockout positions now locked in for both the men's and women's tournaments. The question on everyone's mind is which teams have earned those coveted spots. After eight round‑robin games, the squads that topped their respective tables earned a straight berth to the championship match at Lord's, scheduled for Sunday, 16 August.
The runners‑up and the third‑placed sides will clash in the eliminator fixtures at The Kia Oval on Friday, 14 August. The victors of those eliminators will join the table‑toppers in the final. Here’s a detailed look at how the standings shaped up: **Men's competition** With just two matches remaining in the group stage, it became clear that Trent Rockets would finish the league in first place. Their consistent performances across the eight games secured them the top slot and a direct ticket to the final at Lord's.
Manchester Super Giants clinched a place in the eliminator after delivering a dominant win over SunRisers Leeds on Tuesday. The Super Giants not only matched SunRisers on points—both sitting on 20—but also edged ahead on net run‑rate by comfortably chasing a modest target of 128 with 33 balls to spare.
This superior run‑rate gave them the crucial second‑place finish. SunRisers Leeds, despite the heavy loss, remained in contention for a knockout berth. A victory in their final league match would have propelled them above the Rockets into the final, but the scale of the defeat left them vulnerable. They ultimately slipped to third place, securing a spot in the eliminator rather than the championship match.
Defending champions MI London, who have held the title for the past three years, needed a massive win—by at least 59 runs—against Birmingham Phoenix on Wednesday to overtake SunRisers Leeds on net run‑rate. They managed a narrow two‑run win, which was insufficient to close the gap, leaving them in fourth place and out of the knockout picture.
Net run‑rate, the tiebreaker used when teams finish on equal points, works much like goal difference in football. In The Hundred it is calculated by taking the average number of runs a team scores per 100 balls across all matches and subtracting the average runs they concede per 100 balls. **Women's competition** The women's table mirrored the men's in its clarity.
Trent Rockets also topped the women's league, amassing 28 points from their eight games, which guaranteed them a direct place in the Sunday final. Their decisive three‑wicket victory over Southern Brave on Monday sealed the top spot, pushing Southern Brave down to the eliminator. Southern Brave, now sitting second, will travel to the Kia Oval to meet SunRisers Leeds in the women's eliminator.
SunRisers Leeds secured their knockout qualification with a commanding 41‑run triumph over Manchester Super Giants at Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday. That win not only lifted them to second place but also eliminated the Super Giants from the women's competition.
**Eliminator schedule** - Friday, 14 August – Kia Oval (Women’s eliminator: Southern Brave vs SunRisers Leeds, 2:15 pm; Men’s eliminator: Manchester Super Giants vs SunRisers Leeds, 6:00 pm). A reserve day is available on Saturday, 15 August.
- Sunday, 16 August – Lord's (Finals: Women’s – Trent Rockets vs the women’s eliminator winner, 2:15 pm; Men’s – Trent Rockets vs the men’s eliminator winner, 6:00 pm). A reserve day is set for Monday, 17 August. Fans can follow the action live on NOW, which offers streaming of all matches, highlights, and related content.
Sky Sports also provides updates, video analysis, and interactive features via its WhatsApp channel, ensuring supporters stay informed throughout the tournament. In summary, the path to the final is now clearly defined: Trent Rockets occupy the automatic final spots for both genders, while the eliminator fixtures will determine their opponents. The upcoming weekend promises high‑stakes cricket at two historic venues, with the ultimate prize awaiting the winners at Lord's.