Sunrisers Leeds defeated Birmingham Phoenix by 45 runs at Edgbaston, jumping to second place in The Hundred standings and eliminating the Phoenix from the 2026 competition. Opening batsman Ryan Rickelton led the charge with 65 runs from 37 balls, supported by strong bowling performances from Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts.
Ryan Rickelton and Top-Order Partnership Set the Total
Put into bat first, Sunrisers Leeds established a competitive foundation through opening batsman Ryan Rickelton, who delivered 65 runs from 37 deliveries. The South African left-hander struck six fours and three sixes during his innings. He combined with Mitch Marsh for a 52-run opening partnership before adding another 42 runs alongside Harry Brook.
Despite the strong start, the innings saw a late collapse near the close. Wicketkeeper Joe Clarke ran out Rickelton from the 93rd ball of the innings, marking the third of four wickets to tumble for just 15 runs. Usman Tariq provided the breakthrough spin for Birmingham Phoenix, bowling the tournament’s leading run-scorer Marsh for 34 and trapping England white-ball captain Brook leg-before-wicket for 19. Sunrisers ultimately reached 169-7 from their 100 balls.
Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts Dismantle the Phoenix Chase
Chasing 169, Birmingham Phoenix fell behind the required run-rate early and never recovered. Brydon Carse dismantled the host’s top order during the powerplay, removing Mitch Owen for 10 and Rehan Ahmed for a duckâwith Ahmed departing just four balls after Will Smeed fell for 9 to a catch by Rickelton off Matthew Potts. Carse returned later to bowl Donovan Ferreira for 3, finishing his spell with impressive figures of 3-17.
Sean Dickson provided the primary resistance for the hosts, top-scoring with 34 runs from 27 balls before hitting straight to Brook in the deep off Nathan Ellis. Matthew Potts finished off the lower order by bowling Scott Currie and Tom Helm with successive deliveries, sealing figures of 3-22 and extinguishing any remaining hope for the Phoenix.
Standings Shift and Tournament Implications
The 45-run victory propelled Sunrisers Leeds upward from fifth place in the standings. By improving their net run-rate, they surpassed both MI London and Welsh Fire, placing themselves squarely in second place with every team having now played six games.
Conversely, the defeat confirms elimination for Birmingham Phoenix, who remain anchored at the bottom of the table with one win and five losses. The Phoenix join London Spirit in missing out on the next stage of the competition, while the Manchester Super Giants sit four points behind the leading trio of teams battling for top positions.
Saturday Double-Header Schedule Across the Country
The competition continues with a busy double-header schedule. MI London will host Trent Rockets, while Southern Brave welcome Manchester Super Giants. Women’s and men’s fixtures at The Oval are set to begin at 11:00 and 14:30 BST respectively, and matches at the Utilita Bowl feature the women’s tie at 14:30 followed by the men at 18:00 BST.
