The Manchester Super Giants left Headingley with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over SunRisers Leeds after opener Smriti Mandhana produced an unbeaten 88 to chase down a target of 142. The result keeps the Super Giants' perfect start in The Hundred intact and moves them to second in the standings on 10 points.
Mandhana holds her nerve as middle order stumbles
After SunRisers had posted 142 for 4 in their 100 balls, courtesy of useful contributions from Phoebe Litchfield (31 off 26), Annabel Sutherland (35 off 24) and a late cameo from captain Dani Gibson (18 off 6), Manchester’s reply looked in trouble when they slipped to 71 for 5 following a fine spell from the home attack that returned four wickets for 10 runs.
Into that pressure stepped Mandhana, whose innings included a rapid half-century off just 33 balls. As the match reached its closing stages she absorbed the responsibility and, when given the opportunity, finished emphatically. With the contest still in the balance and a chance of a stunning turnaround for the hosts, Mandhana scored the last-of-the-innings runs by hitting two consecutive sixes to clinch the win with five balls to spare.
"Mandhana made no mistake with her remaining balls as she smashed two straight sixes to win the game for her side."
Turning points and key moments
- SunRisers posted 142/4 in their 100 balls.
- Manchester Super Giants recovered from 71/5 to win by four wickets.
- Mandhana finished 88 not out, reaching fifty in 33 balls.
A pivotal moment late in the chase saw a dropped opportunity when Darcey Carter appeared to take a catch on the boundary with Mandhana on 71; the miss allowed the batter to press on and complete the victory.
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| SunRisers Leeds | 142/4 (100 balls) | - |
| Manchester Super Giants | 143/6 (remaining balls) | Won by 4 wickets |
Local impact and what it means in The Hundred
For Manchester fans, the win sustains a promising start to the campaign and underlines the significance of having a match-winner in the line-up. The Super Giants now sit second in the competition with 10 points, while SunRisers drop to fifth on four points after a second defeat.
Headingley provided a high-pressure environment but ultimately witnessed a display of controlled power hitting when it mattered most. The result will give the Super Giants momentum heading into their next fixtures and maintain local interest in the club’s progress through the tournament.
Supporters planning to follow the team can expect the men’s and women’s double-header structure of The Hundred to continue across the schedule, with forthcoming match-ups keeping the competition tightly contested.
