The defending champions, SunRisers Leeds, clinched a coveted place in the women’s Hundred eliminator by out‑scoring Manchester Super Giants by a margin of 41 runs in a decisive showdown at Old Trafford. The match, essentially a winner‑takes‑all battle for the final slot among the top three teams, saw Australian all‑rounder Annabel Sutherland deliver a spectacular unbeaten innings of 62 runs from just 36 deliveries, propelling Leeds past their rivals and setting up a semi‑final encounter with Southern Brave. Sutherland’s explosive knock was punctuated by nine fours and three towering sixes, helping the visitors post a formidable total of 166 for 4 after being put into bat. The innings was bolstered by a quick‑fire cameo from Dani Gibson, who added 24 runs off 13 balls, and a rapid 27‑run burst from opening batter Phoebe Litchfield, who reached her score in just 12 deliveries, briefly overtaking Sophia Dunkley at the summit of the competition’s run‑scoring leaderboard.
Manchester’s reply never truly got going. Spinner Jess Jonassen proved the most lethal bowler of the day, claiming three wickets for just 21 runs. She was supported by India’s Deepti Sharma and Sutherland herself, each taking two wickets. The Super Giants were eventually bundled out for 125 for 8, slipping to fourth place in the standings and ending their campaign.
Leeds, now sitting second on the table, will defend their title against Southern Brave on Friday at The Oval. The winner of that clash will face table‑topping Trent Rockets in the final scheduled for Sunday at Lord’s.
Match Hero Annabel Sutherland reflected on her performance: "Being an all‑rounder means you’re involved in every phase of the game, and I love that. It felt like a final, and we knew we had to win. It was great to deliver for the team." Her sentiment captured the intensity of a match that felt more like a championship decider than a regular league fixture. The innings began with Litchfield’s aggressive start, but a miscued drag‑down off Mady Villiers halted the momentum temporarily.
Bryony Smith (17 off 16) and Lauren Winfield‑Hill (20 off 15) steadied the innings, with Smith being caught by Villiers off a delivery from Kathryn Bryce, and Winfield‑Hill run‑out after a brief mix‑up, leaving the score at 83‑3. Sutherland then took charge, anchoring the chase with a powerful display that included a flurry of sixes from Ryana MacDonald‑Gay, who finished the innings by hitting three consecutive sixes to seal the record‑breaking total of 166‑4 – the highest score recorded in the women’s Hundred at Emirates Old Trafford. In response, the Super Giants started positively, but Jonassen’s skillful yorker dismissed Smriti Mandhana for 28, curbing any early surge.
Grave Scrivens contributed a brisk 31 off 24 balls, hitting six fours before being stumped by Winfield‑Hill off Sutherland’s spell (2‑17). Richa Ghosh fell two deliveries later, caught by Jonassen, while Bryce chose to retire out after making 15 from 14 balls.
Even former captain Meg Lanning could not generate momentum, falling for 10 off 15 deliveries to Jonassen’s accurate bowling. The Super Giants ultimately fell short at 125‑8. The victory marks the SunRisers’ fourth consecutive win after a sluggish start to the tournament, positioning them strongly for the upcoming eliminator.
Their blend of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding has turned them into the team to beat as the competition heads into its climax. Fans can follow the remainder of the Hundred on Sky Sports and stream all matches, including the final on Sunday, August 16, via NOW without a contract. For real‑time updates, highlights, and analysis, Sky Sports offers a dedicated WhatsApp channel. The SunRisers’ journey illustrates the impact of dynamic all‑rounders and the importance of seizing key moments in a tightly contested league, setting the stage for an exciting showdown at The Oval and a potential showdown with the unbeaten Trent Rockets at Lord’s.