Sunrisers Leeds booked their place in the Women’s Hundred 2026 final once again, edging past Southern Brave with a controlled performance that saw them defend smartly and chase confidently in the Eliminator. The defending champions now face Trent Rockets in the grand finale on Sunday.
—
## A disciplined bowling display sets the tone
Opting to bowl first, Sunrisers Leeds executed their plans precisely. Despite a blazing start from Brave opener Lizelle Lee—who smashed a six and several fours—the Sunrisers’ attack tightened up. Lee’s assault was halted by Hannah Baker’s top leg-break, and five consecutive dot balls from Jess Jonassen choked their momentum.
Maia Bouchier, at the other crease, struggled early. Kate Cross and Deepti Sharma then struck in quick succession to remove Laura Wolvaardt and Bouchier, swinging the match firmly in Sunrisers’ favour. Brave never regained traction, losing wickets at regular intervals. Contributions from Sophie Molineux and Charli Knott added slight resistance, but Brave collapsed to 114 for 7 across their 100-ball innings.
—
## The chase: nerves, partnerships, and composure
Southern Brave’s bowlers struck early in Sunrisers’ chase. Lauren Bell and Issy Wong removed both openers, putting immediate pressure on the champions. But Lauren Winfield-Hill and Annabel Sutherland steadied things with vital boundary shots, bringing the chase back into balance until Sutherland was removed by Sarah Glenn at a key moment.
Shifting gears, Deepti Sharma joined Winfield-Hill to forge a crucial partnership that showed composure. Down to the final overs needing 20 off 24 balls, Sunrisers lost two wickets in successive deliveries—a moment of tension sparked by Issy Wong’s breakthrough. Yet, Sunrisers responded swiftly. Deepti and Jess Jonassen each smashed two boundaries over ten balls, sealing a five-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare.
—
## Key performances that tipped the balance
– Lizelle Lee led Southern Brave with a gritty top score of 32, but couldn’t escape Baker’s leg spin.
– Hannah Baker grabbed 2 for 13, while the bowlers collectively kept Brave from taking off late in their innings.
– For Sunrisers, Winfield-Hill’s 37 and Sharma’s unbeaten 28 anchored the chase.
– Issy Wong picked up 3 wickets for 21 runs, the standout bowling figure of the match.
—
## What this means going into the final
With this win, Sunrisers Leeds will compete for the Women’s Hundred title yet again, once more proving their mettle under pressure. Trent Rockets, their final opponents, have been building momentum all tournament, setting up a high-stakes contest on Sunday.
Sunrisers’ ability to control crucial phases—both in their bowling innings and during tense moments of their chase—will be the benchmark for success in the final. If their performance in the Eliminator is any indication, they’ll be ready on all fronts.
—
## Final scores at a glance
**Southern Brave Women**: 114⁄7 (100 overs)
– Lizelle Lee top-scores with 32
– Hannah Baker takes 2/13
**Sunrisers Leeds**: 116⁄5 (89 balls)
– Lauren Winfield-Hill scores 37
– Deepti Sharma remains not out on 28
– Issy Wong picks up 3/21
—
Sunrisers Leeds once again demonstrate why they’re the benchmark in the Women’s Hundred: disciplined bowling, steady partnerships, and nerves of steel when it matters most. Their road to the final underscores a blend of experience, skill, and poise—a formula that could well earn them back-to-back titles.
This article is AI-generated content. Please verify the information independently before taking any action based on this article.
