A win for SunRisers Leeds saw the elimination of Birmingham Phoenix from the men’s competition, just as with their women’s team earlier.
SunRisers moved up to second place in the table after a big net run rate swing, while Phoenix are the second men’s team to be knocked out after London Spirit last night.
SunRisers were too powerful for the home side, their opening partnership of Mitchell Marsh and Ryan Rickelton firing once again, racing to 52 off 32 before they were separated as Marsh played tentatively to Usman Tariq, the only Phoenix bowler to come out of the day with any credit, despite conceding 17 off his last five balls.
Harry Brook flickered briefly before Tariq trapped him in front and from there the SunRisers tailed off slightly, Rickelton being relatively starved of the strike, run out off the 93rd ball having hit 65 off 37.
It was only due to two sixes from the last three balls that the visitors got up to a score with which they could feel comfortable.
Any fear about giving up the chance of moving up the table into the qualification spots were soon allayed however, as Brydon Carse (3-17) bowled the first 10 and got rid of Mitchell Owen and Matthew Potts (3-22) followed up by snaring Will Smeed.
Carse got Rehan Ahmed for a duck and the game seemed as good as up before the powerplay was done.
Joe Clarke and Sean Dickson delayed the inevitable and Jordan Thompson thumped a couple of late sixes but the class of the SunRisers’ attack was in evidence as the Phoenix finished 45 short.
England quicks Carse and Potts both finished with an economical three wickets while leggie Abrar Ahmed went at less than a run a ball.
‘It is getting tight at the top’
Meerkat Match Hero, Ryan Rickelton, speaking on Sky Sports Cricket:
“It’s getting tight at the top, so it was nice to get a big net run rate win here. Mitch [Marsh] takes quite an aggressive route up front really early on and he allows me to cruise behind him. I’d much rather play with him than against him!
“We left about 10 or 20 out there… but the bowlers are really carrying us through at the moment and hopefully that will continue.”
Remaining men’s and women’s group fixtures
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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