Leeds Sunrisers secure dominant win over MI London at The Oval

By George Aldridge — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

Sunrisers Leeds began the new era of The Hundred women’s competition with a decisive seven-wicket victory against MI London at The Oval. The match saw Sunrisers Leeds chase down their target with 31 balls to spare, following a strong bowling performance that limited MI London to 107-8 from 100 balls.

The competition has undergone significant changes for 2026, with new ownership structures for all eight teams, bringing an influx of over £500m into the domestic game. This has led to various alterations, including increased pay for players, new coaches, and even changes to team logos. Three teams have adopted new names, reflecting their shared ownership with Indian Premier League sides. Oval Invincibles are now MI London, Northern Superchargers have become SunRisers Leeds, and Manchester Originals are now Manchester Super Giants.

Match Highlights and Player Performances

In the opening game, Phoebe Litchfield of Sunrisers Leeds was the top scorer with 43 runs from 26 balls. Her compatriot, Annabel Sutherland, contributed an unbeaten 30 runs from 23 balls. For MI London, Hayley Matthews scored 33 runs from 22 balls.

The Sunrisers Leeds bowling attack was particularly effective. India spinner Deepti Sharma took crucial wickets, dismissing MI London openers Hayley Matthews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge after they had made a positive start, reaching 56-0. Sunrisers captain Dani Gibson also claimed 2-17, while leg-spinner Hannah Baker took 2-16.

Despite the victory, Sunrisers Leeds faced a concern when experienced bowler Kate Cross sustained a shoulder injury while fielding. She was taken off the field by the physio. It was confirmed that the injury was not a dislocation, but she is scheduled for a scan to determine the full extent of the damage.

The Evolving Landscape of The Hundred

The 2026 season introduces substantial changes across The Hundred. Salary pots for women players have increased by 100% to £880,000 per team, while men’s salaries have risen by 45% to £2.05m. The highest-paid women players, Australia’s Beth Mooney and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine, are reported to be earning £210,000 each, with minimum salaries for women increasing from £10,000 to £15,000.

Squads have seen considerable turnover, with only a fifth of men’s players from the 2025 competition remaining with the same teams. This shift is partly due to a new selection process, with most players chosen through an auction in March, rather than traditional methods. London Spirit has experienced the most significant change, with only three of their 34 signed players having been with the team in 2025.

Coaching staff have also seen extensive changes, with only two of the 16 head coaches across both men’s and women’s competitions retaining their positions from last year. Several coaches have moved to different teams, including Andy Flower, who transitioned from Trent Rockets to London Spirit, and Justin Langer, who moved from London Spirit to Manchester Super Giants.

The branding of The Hundred has also evolved, with new kits and sponsors. Snack brands that previously adorned team shirts have been replaced by financial and insurance companies, such as Sokin, Vitality, and Barclays. One team, Manchester Super Giants, plans to distribute replica shirts to every fan attending their matches.

Upcoming Fixtures

The group phase of the competition, which commenced on Tuesday, is set to conclude on 12 August. The team topping the table will advance directly to the final, while the second and third-placed teams will compete in a play-off to determine the other finalist.

On Wednesday, Southern Brave will face Welsh Fire in Southampton. The women’s game is scheduled to start at 14:45 BST, followed by the men’s game at 18:30 BST.

Source: bbc.co.uk