Sunrisers Leeds Women produced a clinical performance in the 27th match of The Hundred Women’s Competition 2026, chasing down Welsh Fire Women’s 121/8 with six wickets and 26 balls to spare. The victory was built around an explosive half-century from Phoebe Litchfield, who was named Player of the Match for her superb 55 off just 25 balls.
Lauren Winfield-Hill, Annabel Sutherland, Dani Gibson and Jess Jonassen all made useful contributions as Sunrisers Leeds completed a comfortable chase at 122/4 in only 74 balls. For Welsh Fire, Freya Kemp stood out with a brilliant unbeaten 72 off 45 deliveries, but her individual effort ultimately proved insufficient as Sunrisers Leeds Women’s batting depth and aggressive approach decided the contest.
Welsh Fire Women began their innings with Georgia Voll and Sarah Bryce at the crease, but their opening partnership lasted only nine runs. Bryce was dismissed by Kate Cross for 4 off four balls, leaving Welsh Fire at 9/1. Voll tried to rebuild the innings and added 42 runs with Freya Kemp before she became the second batter dismissed, falling to Deepti Sharma for 16 off 18 balls with the score on 51. Kemp, however, continued to attack and formed a brief 10-run partnership with Georgia Wareham, who was caught by Phoebe Litchfield off Hannah Baker for just 3 from eight balls.
Orla Prendergast then departed for a duck after facing three deliveries, bowled by Baker, leaving Welsh Fire struggling at 61/4. Kemp then found another partner in Heather Graham, and the pair added nine runs before Graham was caught by Kate Cross off Deepti Sharma for 7 off seven balls. Grace Thompson joined Kemp next, but their association produced only three runs before Thompson was run out for 2 from four deliveries. With wickets tumbling around her, Kemp took responsibility for keeping Welsh Fire moving.
She then added a crucial 35-run partnership with Niamh Holland, who scored 9 from 11 balls before being dismissed by Sharma at 108/7. Rhianne Southby was the final batter to depart, run out for 1 from seven balls after an 11-run partnership with Kemp. Kemp remained unbeaten on 72 from 45 balls, striking six fours and three sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 160.00, while Sophia Smale finished unbeaten without facing a delivery. Welsh Fire reached 121/8 from their 100 balls, with seven extras also contributing to the total.
The Sunrisers Leeds Women bowling attack shared the workload effectively. Deepti Sharma was the standout bowler, taking 3/13 from her 20 balls, while Hannah Baker claimed 2/15 from 12 deliveries. Kate Cross returned 1/16 from 15 balls. Annabel Sutherland bowled 20 balls for 40 runs without a wicket, while Jess Jonassen conceded 19 runs from 15 balls without finding a breakthrough.
The chase could hardly have started worse for Sunrisers Leeds, with Bryony Smith dismissed for a three-ball duck by Grace Thompson, leaving the hosts at 0/1. However, Phoebe Litchfield immediately changed the momentum. She joined Lauren Winfield-Hill and launched a spectacular counterattack, with the pair adding 55 runs for the second wicket. Winfield-Hill scored 17 from 14 balls, including three fours, before being bowled by Sophia Smale with the score on 55. Litchfield continued in breathtaking fashion, bringing up her half-century in just 24 balls before eventually falling for a superb 55 off 25 deliveries.
Her innings included six fours and three sixes and came at a sensational strike rate of 220.00. Georgia Graham took the catch off Georgia Wareham to end Litchfield’s assault at 91/3. Annabel Sutherland then joined forces with Dani Gibson and ensured that the chase remained firmly under Sunrisers Leeds’ control. The pair added 16 runs before Sutherland was caught by Freya Kemp off Sophia Smale for 28 from 18 balls. Sutherland struck five fours during her brisk innings and kept the required rate comfortably under control.
Gibson remained unbeaten on 10 from nine balls, including a six, and was joined by Jess Jonassen after Sutherland’s dismissal. The unbeaten pair added the remaining 15 runs, with Jonassen contributing 6 off five balls, including a four, while Gibson finished on 10. Sunrisers Leeds crossed the finish line at 122/4 after only 74 balls, winning by six wickets with 26 balls remaining.
Welsh Fire’s bowlers had a difficult evening despite a few promising moments. Grace Potts provided the early breakthrough with 1/15 from her 10 balls, while Orla Prendergast conceded 24 runs from 15 balls without a wicket. Sophia Smale was the most successful bowler, taking 2/23 from her 20 deliveries. Heather Graham bowled 15 balls for 24 runs without a wicket, while Georgia Wareham finished with 1/24 from 14 balls.
Loves all things female cricket