We are into crunch time in the 2026 edition of The Hundred, with knockout spots up for grabs in the men’s and women’s competitions. But who will claim them, and who needs what?
The men’s and women’s sides that finish first in their respective tables after the eight group games secure direct qualification to the finals at Lord’s on Sunday August 16.
The teams coming second and third will meet in the eliminator at The Kia Oval on Friday August 14, with the winners of those matches then also making the final.
Here is the state of play as the league phase enters its final stages…
Men’s competition
Barring the already-eliminated London Spirit, it is still wide open in the men’s competition.
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Tom Curran appeared to clash with a few former England team-mates after hitting the match-winning runs for MI London that eliminated London Spirit
Trent Rockets moved one step closer towards qualification for the latter stages as they surged four points clear at the top of the table on 20 points with a fifth victory in six on Wednesday night.
Birmingham Phoenix are up against it, level with Spirit at the bottom of the table on four points but having played a game less.
They are still capable of getting to 16 points and giving themselves a chance of reaching the eliminator with three closing wins – the tally MI London and Welsh Fire in second and third, respectively, have accrued after six games.
It means, though, that Phoenix simply MUST win on Friday against SunRisers Leeds, or their tournament too will be ended early.
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Watch as SunRisers Leeds hit the record highest total in The Hundred against London Spirit
SunRisers Leeds and Manchester Super Giants look to be the biggest threats to the top three, locked together on 12 points, albeit Super Giants have played a game more.
Things are looking pretty bleak, meanwhile, for Southern Brave, on eight points after six games. They will likely have to win out and have other results go their way to be in with a sniff of qualification.
Women’s competition
The top two in the women’s competition are all but confirmed, with table-toppers Trent Rockets joined on 20 points by Southern Brave after six games.
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Leading run-scorer in the women’s competition Sophia Dunkley hit a quickfire half-century for Trent Rockets in their Hundred win over Birmingham Phoenix
Only Manchester Super Giants, in third on 14 points, are capable of overhauling either team’s tally, while Welsh Fire and SunRisers Leeds are able to match that 20-point total by winning out.
Fire are currently fourth on 12 points and SunRisers fifth on eight, but having played a game less.
They face off on Sunday, meaning they will take points off each other in some way or form, so the Monday meeting between Rockets and Brave will likely be a battle for top spot, the winner progressing straight through to the final and avoiding the eliminator.
MI London kept their tournament alive when finally registering their first win on Thursday night against capital-city rivals London Spirit, a result that sees the teams level on six points after six games.
It means both must now win their remaining two matches, and have other results go their way, to even be in with a sniff of qualification for the eliminator.
Birmingham Phoenix are in a similarly bleak position stuck on six points, albeit with three games remaining, allowing them a tiny bit more room to manoeuvre over the closing stages.
Remaining men’s and women’s group fixtures
Friday August 7: Birmingham Phoenix vs Sunrisers Leeds, Edgbaston (women’s game 3pm, men’s 6.30pm)
Saturday August 8: MI London vs Trent Rockets, The Kia Oval (women’s game 11am, men’s 2.30pm)
Saturday August 8: Southern Brave vs Manchester Super Giants, Utilita Bowl (women’s game 2.30pm, men’s 6pm)
Sunday August 9: Sunrisers Leeds vs Welsh Fire, Headingley (women’s game 11am, men’s 2.30pm)
Sunday August 9: London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix, Lord’s (women’s game 2.30pm, men’s 6pm)
Monday August 10: Trent Rockets vs Southern Brave, Trent Bridge (women’s game 3pm, men’s 6.30pm)
Tuesday August 11: Manchester Super Giants vs Sunrisers Leeds, Emirates Old Trafford (women’s game 3pm, men’s 6.30pm)
Wednesday August 12: Welsh Fire vs London Spirit, Sophia Gardens (women’s game 11.30am, men’s 3pm)
Wednesday August 12: Birmingham Phoenix vs MI London, Edgbaston (women’s game 3pm, men’s 6.30pm)
Friday August 14: Eliminators (women’s game 2.15pm, men’s 6pm) – Reserve Day, Saturday August 15
Sunday August 16: Finals (women’s game 2.15pm, men’s 6pm) – Reserve Day, Monday August 17
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