Sunrisers Leeds secured their inaugural win of The Hundred men's competition, defeating Southern Brave by a narrow margin of five runs at Headingley. The victory, achieved on Friday, 25 July 2026, saw Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh deliver a spectacular batting performance, scoring 69 runs from just 34 balls to set a formidable target for the visitors.
Marsh, who opened the innings alongside Ryan Rickelton, dominated from the outset. He reached his half-century in a blistering 26 balls, capitalising on a costly over from Luke Wood that yielded 28 runs, including four free hits. The Sunrisers raced to 102 without loss at the halfway point of their innings, laying a strong foundation for a high total.
Despite the early fireworks, Southern Brave's Adil Rashid managed to slow the scoring rate, claiming three crucial wickets, including that of Marsh. However, Dan Lawrence ensured the momentum continued for the home side, hitting a rapid 50 from 24 deliveries, supported by Tom Alsop's quickfire 21, as Sunrisers Leeds posted a competitive total of 187-5 from their 100 balls.
In response, Southern Brave's chase began promisingly, with Ben McKinney leading the charge with a brisk 44 from 23 balls. Fellow opener Jamie Smith contributed 30 from 18 deliveries, helping the Brave reach 80-2 after 46 balls. Marcus Stoinis further boosted their hopes with 31 runs from 16 balls, featuring four fours and a six, before falling to Sunrisers spinner Abrar Ahmed, who finished with figures of 2-33.
The match went down to the wire, with Tristan Stubbs keeping Southern Brave in contention with an unbeaten 43 from 20 balls. However, disciplined bowling in the death overs from Nathan Ellis and Brydon Carse ultimately stifled the Brave's efforts, securing a hard-fought five-run victory for Sunrisers Leeds. This result marks Sunrisers' first win of the 2026 campaign, while Southern Brave remain winless after two matches.