Sunrisers Leeds beat London Spirit by 37 runs – The Hundred Match Report
Sunrisers Leeds won by 37 runs in the 20th match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 at Headingley. Ryan Rickelton produced a devastating 94 off 42 balls – strike rate 224 with 6 fours and 8 sixes – to power the hosts to 241 for 2, a total that proved beyond London Spirit despite David Willey‘s valiant 83 off 46. The win lifts Sunrisers Leeds to 6th (2W 2L, 8pts) while London Spirit remain 7th (1W 3L, 4pts) in the standings.
Sunrisers Leeds Post 241 for 2
London Spirit won the toss and elected to bowl, but the decision backfired spectacularly. Mitchell Marsh opened with a brutal 76 off 37 balls (6 fours, 7 sixes, strike rate 205), setting a ferocious tempo from the outset. He was caught at 148 for 1 in the 12th over, but by then the damage was done.
Ryan Rickelton then took centre stage with one of the most explosive innings of the tournament. Arriving at the crease with momentum already with the hosts, Rickelton struck at 224 across 42 balls, accumulating 94 runs with devastating efficiency. His 8 sixes were a masterclass in clean striking, and he remained unbeaten to anchor the innings. Harry Brook added further gloss with a quickfire 55 off just 18 balls (5 fours, 5 sixes, strike rate 306) before falling caught at 231 for 2 in the 19th over.
David Willey was the standout bowler for London Spirit, taking 1 for 35 from 2.3 overs, but even his economy rate of 2.33 could not stem the flow of runs. Adam Milne claimed 1 for 37 from 3.2 overs, while the remaining bowlers – James Coles, Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye, Jamie Overton and Liam Livingstone – all went wicketless as Sunrisers Leeds plundered 241 from their 16.4 overs.
London Spirit Fall Short at 204 for 6
The chase began poorly for London Spirit. Lhuan-dre Pretorius was caught for 5 at 35 for 1 in the 2nd over, and Jonny Bairstow departed for a golden duck at 1 for 2 – a catastrophic start that left the visitors needing 240 from 98 balls.
Liam Livingstone provided a brief spark with 34 off 13 (4 fours, 3 sixes, strike rate 262) before being caught at 44 for 3 in the 3rd over. Dewald Brevis steadied the ship with 38 off 21 (3 fours, 2 sixes, strike rate 181), but his dismissal at 130 for 4 in the 13th over left the chase in tatters.
David Willey then launched a remarkable counterattack, smashing 83 off 46 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes, strike rate 180) to keep London Spirit in mathematical contention. Jamie Overton provided late support with 27 off 15 (2 fours, 2 sixes), but the pair could only manage 204 for 6 – 37 runs short of the target.
Reece Topley was the pick of Sunrisers Leeds’ bowlers, taking 2 for 30 from 3.2 overs at an economy of 1.5. Nathan Ellis also claimed 2 wickets for 42 runs from 3.2 overs, while Matty Potts (1 for 42) and Matthew Revis (1 for 26) completed the bowling attack.
Statz MVP: David Willey (Statz Rating: 118.4)
David Willey earns the Statz MVP award with a rating of 118.4, despite finishing on the losing side. His 83 off 46 balls was a tour de force in the chase, and his earlier spell of 1 for 35 from 2.3 overs showed his value across both disciplines. Willey’s aggressive batting kept London Spirit alive when the match appeared beyond reach, and his all-round contribution was the standout individual performance of the evening.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- David Willey (LS) – Statz Rating: 118.4 | 83 off 46 (SR 180) plus 1/35 with the ball. Lone warrior in a losing chase.
- Harry Brook (SL) – Statz Rating: 112.86 | 55 off 18 (SR 306, 5 fours, 5 sixes). Explosive cameo that sealed the match.
- Ryan Rickelton (SL) – Statz Rating: 107.81 | 94 off 42 (SR 224, 6 fours, 8 sixes). Unbeaten anchor that built the winning total.
- Mitchell Marsh (SL) – Statz Rating: 83.43 | 76 off 37 (SR 205, 6 fours, 7 sixes). Explosive start set the tone for Sunrisers Leeds.
- Liam Livingstone (LS) – Statz Rating: 79.14 | 34 off 13 (SR 262, 4 fours, 3 sixes). Brief but brilliant effort in the chase.
Turning Point
The match was decided in the powerplay. Mitchell Marsh‘s 76 off 37 balls set Sunrisers Leeds on a trajectory towards 240-plus, and Ryan Rickelton‘s unbeaten 94 ensured the hosts crossed 240. When London Spirit lost Jonny Bairstow for a duck and Liam Livingstone soon after, the chase was effectively over. David Willey‘s late heroics made the scoreline respectable, but the damage had been done in the opening overs.
Match Context
This was the 20th match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 group stage. Sunrisers Leeds (6th, 2W 2L, 8pts) move to 8 points with this commanding victory, keeping their qualification hopes alive. London Spirit (7th, 1W 3L, 4pts) remain in the bottom half of the table and face an uphill battle to reach the knockouts. Check the full scorecard and head-to-head record on Statz for complete match details and historical context.
