SunRisers Leeds produced a significant Leeds score in The Hundred, beating Birmingham Phoenix by 45 runs to move up to second place and end Phoenix’s men’s campaign. With the race for the top spots getting tight, Ryan Rickelton said it was exactly the kind of result his side needed.
It was also a decisive night for Birmingham Phoenix, who were eliminated from the men’s competition after the loss. The result came after London Spirit became the first men’s team to be knocked out yesterday night, underlining how quickly the tournament picture is being shaped as the finals at Lord’s on Sunday August 16 approach.
Rickelton was central to the win and was named Meerkat Match Hero after making 65 off 37. He shared a strong opening platform with Mitchell Marsh, who made 52 off 32, before SunRisers Leeds finished strongly and then backed it up with a bowling display that kept Birmingham Phoenix well below the line.
Rickelton and Marsh set the tone
Rickelton said the result mattered not just because it was a win, but because of the margin. “It’s getting tight at the top, so it was nice to get a big net run rate win here,” he said.
That is the sort of detail that can decide a late-stage tournament. SunRisers Leeds were not simply looking for two points; they were looking to strengthen their position in the table, and they did exactly that by moving into second place on August 7, 2026.
The partnership between Rickelton and Marsh again gave SunRisers Leeds control. “Mitch takes quite an aggressive route up front really early on and he allows me to cruise behind him,” Rickelton said. “I’d much rather play with him than against him!”
Birmingham Phoenix could not recover
For Birmingham Phoenix, the evening brought no way back. Their men’s side joined the women’s side in being eliminated from The Hundred after losses, with the women having already fallen earlier in the competition.
SunRisers Leeds did leave a few runs behind, with Rickelton admitting, “We left about 10 or 20 out there... but the bowlers are really carrying us through at the moment and hopefully that will continue.” Even so, the final margin still said plenty about the balance of the side.
It was also a reminder that this tournament can turn quickly. A 45-run victory, a move to second, and an elimination for Birmingham Phoenix all came from the same result. With Sunday August 16 now getting closer, SunRisers Leeds have put themselves in a strong position when it matters most.
