Leeds SunRisers secure eliminator spot with victory over Manchester Super Giants

By Charlie Bradshaw — 11 August 2026 — 3 min read

SunRisers Leeds have secured a place in The Hundred eliminator match after defeating Manchester Super Giants by 41 runs in a decisive fixture at Old Trafford. The victory means Leeds will continue their title defence in the next stage of the competition.

The match, described as a winner-takes-all contest for a spot in the top three, saw Annabel Sutherland deliver a notable performance. Her unbeaten 62 runs from 36 balls were instrumental in helping Leeds surpass their opponents in the standings. Sutherland, an Australian all-rounder, hit nine boundaries, including three sixes, contributing to the visitors’ total of 166-4 after they were put in to bat.

Key Performances and Match Details

Phoebe Litchfield, an Australian opener for SunRisers Leeds, set an aggressive tone early in the innings, scoring 27 runs from 12 deliveries. Her performance allowed her to move ahead of Sophia Dunkley in the competition’s run-scoring charts. Despite Litchfield’s electrifying innings being cut short, Bryony Smith (17 runs off 16 balls) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (20 runs off 15 balls) maintained the scoring momentum.

After Smith and Winfield-Hill’s departures, leaving the score at 83-3, Sutherland took control of the innings. She was supported by a quick cameo from Dani Gibson, who scored 24 runs off 13 balls. With Gibson’s dismissal, Leeds were at 119-4 with 12 balls remaining. Sutherland then propelled the team to their final score of 166-4, which stands as the highest score in the women’s competition at Emirates Old Trafford, including hitting three consecutive sixes to conclude the innings.

In response, Manchester Super Giants started strongly, but Jess Jonassen, a spinner for Leeds, secured the crucial wicket of Smriti Mandhana for 28 runs. Grace Scrivens contributed 31 runs from 24 balls before being stumped by Winfield-Hill off Sutherland’s bowling. Richa Ghosh also departed shortly after, giving Jonassen her second wicket. Bryce retired out after scoring 15 runs from 14 balls, and Meg Lanning, with 10 runs off 15 balls, was bowled by Jonassen. Ultimately, Manchester were restricted to 125-8, leading to their exit from the competition and placing them fourth in the standings.

Looking Ahead to the Eliminator

The victory means SunRisers Leeds, who are the reigning champions, finished in second place in the standings. They will now face Southern Brave in the eliminator match. This upcoming fixture is scheduled for Friday at The Oval. The winner of this eliminator will then advance to the final, where Trent Rockets, who topped the table, await. The final match is set to take place on Sunday at Lord’s.

Deepti Sharma, an India all-rounder for SunRisers Leeds, was highlighted as a player expected to perform well in such a significant match. She has shown strong form with the ball recently, taking 2-18, 3-11, and 3-13 in her last three appearances. Sharma was also the player of the tournament in India’s 50-over World Cup triumph last year, where she scored 58 runs and took 5-39 against South Africa in the final. She also scored a Test half-century against England at Lord’s in her last match before The Hundred and hit a six to secure London Spirit’s victory in the 2024 final.

Leeds has been in strong form, winning five of their last six matches leading up to this decisive game. Their recent victories include margins of 37 runs, 45 runs, and 71 runs. Their only recent setback was a five-run loss to the table-topping Trent Rockets. The team’s top order is considered strong, featuring players like Mitchell Marsh, who has accumulated 374 runs in seven innings, alongside Ryan Rickelton, Harry Brook, and captain Zak Crawley. SunRisers Leeds will carry a four-match winning streak into their showdown at The Oval on Friday.

Source: racingpost.com