Sunrisers Leeds beat Birmingham Phoenix by 45 runs – The Hundred Match Report
Sunrisers Leeds won by 45 runs in the 24th match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 at Edgbaston. Ryan Rickelton delivered a masterclass with the bat – 65 off 37 balls at a strike rate of 176 – as Leeds posted 169/7, then watched their bowlers dismantle Birmingham’s chase to secure a dominant victory. The win lifts Sunrisers Leeds to 5th (3W 2L, 12pts) while Birmingham Phoenix slip to 8th (1W 3L, 4pts) with qualification hopes fading.
Sunrisers Leeds Post 169
Birmingham won the toss and elected to bowl, but Mitchell Marsh made them pay with an aggressive 34 off 23 (5 fours, 1 six) to set the tone early. The opening stand of 52 came from just 6.2 overs, but Marsh fell clean bowled at that mark, leaving Leeds at 52/1.
Ryan Rickelton then took over. His 65 off 37 (6 fours, 3 sixes) was the centrepiece of Leeds’ innings, combining aggression with timing to dominate the middle overs. Harry Brook chipped in with 19 off 11 (2 fours, 1 six) at a strike rate of 173, adding 42 runs with Rickelton in a blistering partnership. But the real acceleration came late: Matty Potts smashed 8 off just 3 balls (1 six) and Liam Patterson-White struck 10 off 6 (1 six) to push Leeds past 160.
Rickelton was run out at 154/7 in the 18th over, but the damage was done. Usman Tariq was Birmingham’s standout bowler with 2 wickets from 3.2 overs at an economy of 5.6, while Jordan Thompson took 1/38 from 3.2 overs. Tom Helm and Chris Wood each claimed a wicket but went for runs.
Birmingham’s Chase Falls Short
Birmingham’s reply never gained traction. Mitchell Owen fell early for 12 at 12/1 in the 1.5th over, and Will Smeed departed for 9 at 22/2 in the 3.4th. Joe Clarke offered resistance with 25 off 22 (3 fours, 1 six), but he too fell at 67/3 in the 10th over.
Sean Dickson made 34 off 27 (3 fours, 1 six) to keep Birmingham in the hunt, but Brydon Carse and Potts combined to suffocate the chase. Carse took 3/17 from 3.2 overs at an economy of 5.1, while Potts claimed 3/22 from 3.2 overs at 6.6. Jordan Thompson top-scored for Birmingham with 25 off 19 (1 four, 2 sixes), but it proved a lone bright spot. Birmingham were restricted to 124/8, finishing 45 runs short.
Statz MVP: Ryan Rickelton (Statz Rating: 94.02)
Ryan Rickelton earns the Statz MVP award with a Statz Rating of 94.02. His 65 off 37 at a strike rate of 176 was the match-defining innings, setting Leeds up for a total that proved beyond Birmingham’s reach. Rickelton’s aggressive approach in the middle overs created the platform that allowed Potts and Patterson-White to accelerate late. No official Man of the Match was awarded.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Ryan Rickelton (SL) – Statz Rating: 94.02 | 65 off 37 (SR 176, 6 fours, 3 sixes) – Dominant batting display in the middle overs.
- Brydon Carse (SL) – Statz Rating: 87.8 | 3/17 from 3.2 overs (economy 5.31) – Miserly and match-winning with the ball.
- Matty Potts (SL) – Statz Rating: 77.06 | 8 off 3 with the bat plus 3/22 from 3.2 overs – All-round impact in a tight contest.
- Jordan Thompson (BP) – Statz Rating: 70.54 | 25 off 19 (1 four, 2 sixes) – Lone bright spot in Birmingham’s chase.
- Usman Tariq (BP) – Statz Rating: 60.12 | 2/28 from 3.2 overs – Steady bowling effort in a losing cause.
Turning Point
The match turned when Ryan Rickelton was run out for 65 at 154/7 in the 18th over. Though Rickelton’s dismissal came late, his innings had already set Leeds up with a total that proved too steep. Birmingham’s failure to build partnerships – losing wickets regularly and never establishing a significant stand – meant they were always chasing the game. Carse and Potts then strangled the chase with precision bowling, making 169 look unattainable.
Match Context
This was the 24th match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 group stage. Sunrisers Leeds (5th, 3W 2L, 12pts) move to the midpoint of the tournament with momentum, while Birmingham Phoenix (8th, 1W 3L, 4pts) face an uphill battle to qualify. See the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, or explore bet builder options for upcoming matches.
