Sunrisers Leeds have secured their place in The Hundred Eliminator after defeating Manchester Super Giants by 41 runs at Old Trafford. The victory propels the Sunrisers into the knockout stage of the women’s tournament, setting up a clash with Southern Brave.
The Sunrisers posted a challenging total of 166 for 4, spearheaded by an impressive unbeaten innings of 62 runs from just 36 balls by Annabel Sutherland. Her knock included three sixes and six fours. Phoebe Litchfield also contributed significantly with a quickfire 27 off 12 deliveries, helping to build a formidable target. Mady Villiers was the pick of the Super Giants’ bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 25 runs.
In response, the Manchester Super Giants struggled to gain momentum throughout their chase, ultimately finishing at 125 for 8. Jess Jonassen was instrumental for the Sunrisers’ bowling attack, stifling the Super Giants with figures of three wickets for just 21 runs. She dismissed key players Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh, who scored 28 and 13 runs respectively, at crucial junctures. The searing Manchester heat seemed to exacerbate the pressure on the Super Giants’ batting order, leading to some desperate measures.
In a notable moment, Kathryn Bryce was retired out after making 15 runs from 14 balls. This marks the second time this season she has been removed in this manner, having previously experienced a similar situation while playing for Manchester Originals. Grace Scrivens was the top scorer for the Super Giants with 31 runs from 24 balls, but her efforts were ultimately insufficient to steer her team to victory.
With this win, Sunrisers Leeds have moved into the top three of the competition standings. They will now face Southern Brave in the Eliminator at The Oval on Friday. The victor of that match will advance to the final at Lord’s on Sunday, where they will compete against Trent Rockets for the championship title.
As the tournament progresses, the intensity of the competition continues to rise. While the upcoming matches on Wednesday, featuring Welsh Fire against London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix versus MI London, will not impact the knockout qualification for these teams, they are expected to play for pride and improved rankings. Fans can stay updated with all the action and commentary via BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app.
