Harry Brook hit a sensational 15-ball fifty as Sunrisers Leeds posted the highest total in Hundred history and beat London Spirit by 37 runs at Headingley in the men's competition. Ryan Rickelton made 94 not out off 42 balls and Mitchell Marsh scored 76 from 37 as Sunrisers surged to 241-2 in 100 balls, before Spirit replied with 204-6.
Batting first after being put in at Headingley, Sunrisers produced a dominant innings built around power and pace. Brook’s blistering late assault, combined with Rickelton’s near-century and Marsh’s top-order attack, took them past the previous Hundred team record and kept them firmly in play-off contention.
How did Sunrisers build their record total?
Sunrisers' innings was set up by an extraordinary opening stand between Marsh and Rickelton, who added 148 for the first wicket on a flat pitch. That partnership gave Brook, England's limited-overs captain, the freedom to attack when he came to the crease.
Marsh’s 76 came from 37 balls and included the kind of brutal hitting that briefly threatened to overshadow what followed. Rickelton kept the scoreboard moving throughout and finished just short of three figures, stranded on 94 not out because he was starved of the strike at the end of the innings.
Brook then accelerated at remarkable speed, hitting five sixes and five fours in a knock that mixed brute force with finesse. His six over mid-wicket took Sunrisers beyond the previous highest team total of 226, and he reached the fastest fifty in Hundred history in 15 balls, equalling Adam Rossington’s effort for London Spirit against Northern Superchargers in 2022.
The second-wicket stand between Brook and Rickelton added a further 83 runs from 32 balls as Spirit’s bowlers were unable to slow the scoring. Dan Lawrence also contributed one of Sunrisers’ 21 sixes in an innings that smashed the previous Hundred record of 17.
Why was Brook's innings so highly praised?
Brook’s innings stood out even in a match dominated by power hitting because it came while Marsh and Rickelton were already punishing the bowling attack. His strike rate of 305.55 was the fourth highest for a Hundred innings, and the timing of his assault turned an already imposing total into a record.
Spirit tried different plans, but none brought relief. When Jamie Overton nailed his wide yorker, Brook simply reached across and audaciously sliced it over deep third for six. The crowd at Headingley responded to an innings that combined technical adjustment with sheer force.
“That was a masterclass on how to strike the white ball,” ex-England captain Michael Vaughan said on BBC Two.
“A few of Harry's shots had a bit of finesse towards the end, but it was just brute power. It's not easy for bowlers, the pitch is very flat, but London Spirit weren't on it.
“He is just brilliant. Sometimes we watch some of his innings in Test cricket and we say, 'Come on, Harry, you're better than that.'
“And we don't really give him the credit for the way that he assesses what the bowler is going to bowl to him, and he's got so many options to every delivery. He is a wonderful player.”
What happened when London Spirit batted?
After the carnage inflicted on their bowlers, London Spirit made a disastrous start to their reply. Jonny Bairstow was dismissed first ball by Reece Topley and the top order quickly came under pressure as Spirit slipped to 44-4.
Reece Topley finished with 2-30 and helped Sunrisers seize control early in the chase. Spirit looked in danger of being overwhelmed, but former England all-rounder David Willey produced a fighting response to prevent a heavier defeat.
Willey scored 83 not out from 46 balls and carried Spirit to 204-6, ensuring they at least made a contest of the chase after the early collapse. Even so, the target had always looked beyond reach once Sunrisers had reached 241-2.
What does the result mean for the table?
The victory moved Sunrisers up to fourth in the table and kept them in play-off contention. For London Spirit, the defeat left them struggling in seventh.
What were the key records broken?
Sunrisers' innings created several new marks in The Hundred. Their 241-2 surpassed Oval Invincibles' 226-4 against Welsh Fire in 2025 to become the highest team total in the competition’s history.
The 148-run opening stand between Marsh and Rickelton was the highest partnership in The Hundred, beating Jimmy Neesham and Tom Curran’s 127 for Invincibles against Manchester Originals in 2023.
Brook’s 15-ball fifty matched the joint fastest in Hundred history, and his strike rate of 305.55 ranked as the fourth highest for a Hundred innings. Sunrisers also hit 21 sixes in their innings, with Marsh striking seven, Rickelton eight, Brook five and Dan Lawrence one, comfortably surpassing the previous competition best of 17.
There were 31 sixes in total across the match, the most in a Hundred game, beating the previous high of 29 set earlier this summer between Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets. The combined match total of 445 also set a new record, overtaking the 418 scored in that earlier fixture.
How did the innings unfold ball by ball?
Marsh began the innings in trademark fashion, regularly clubbing the ball down the ground with ferocious strength. By the time he reached a 24-ball half-century, Rickelton had faced only five deliveries himself, underlining how completely Marsh had controlled the early stages.
The Australian eventually fell with 35 balls left in the innings, but Spirit gained no respite. Rickelton moved on to his fifty off 21 balls before Brook took over and lit up Headingley with a sequence of boundary hitting that kept the crowd fully engaged.
Spirit’s bowlers tried everything but found no reward on a flat pitch that offered little assistance. Sunrisers kept finding the gaps, clearing the ropes and stretching the match well beyond what Spirit could recover from.
What is happening on Wednesday?
There are four games taking place on Wednesday, starting with Manchester Super Giants hosting Welsh Fire at Old Trafford at 11:30 BST, followed by the men's game at 15:00. Trent Rockets face Birmingham Phoenix at Trent Bridge in the second double header, with the women playing at 15:00 and the men at 18:30.
You can watch both games on BBC Two and . You can follow ball-by-ball commentary of all games on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, and the website and app.
Key Facts
- Sunrisers Leeds scored 241-2 in 100 balls, the highest total in Hundred history.
- Harry Brook made 55 off 18 balls, including a 15-ball fifty.
- Ryan Rickelton scored 94 not out and Mitchell Marsh made 76.
- London Spirit were bowled out for 204-6 in reply after slipping to 44-4.
- Sunrisers moved to fourth in the table, while Spirit remained seventh.
