Rockets THRASH SunRisers to take Hundred title

Trent Rockets dismantled SunRisers Leeds by seven wickets to claim The Hundred Women’s title in a one-sided final at Lord’s, ending a campaign that had promised fireworks but delivered a rout instead. The 74-run victory—built on a dominant batting display and suffocating bowling—was as emphatic as it was unexpected, and it leaves the Rockets as the undisputed champions of the women’s competition for 2024. According to Sky Sports’ match report, the margin was the largest in a Hundred final since the competition’s inception in 2021, surpassing the previous record of 60 runs set in 2022.

A title sealed with authority

SunRisers were inserted to bat after losing the toss, and from the first ball it was clear this would not be the occasion for a late recovery. The Rockets’ seamers, led by Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt, maintained relentless pressure, conceding only 56 runs in their 100-ball allocation. The SunRisers top order collapsed to 27 for three inside six overs, and though Alice Davidson-Richards fought a lone hand with 24 from 20, her dismissal at 87 for four triggered a slide to 112 all out in 17.5 overs.

The chase never stood a chance. Rockets opener Sophie Luff struck 42 from 28 as her side reached 186 for two in 15 overs, a target SunRisers never looked capable of chasing. The margin—74 runs—was the largest in a Hundred final, and it capped a tournament where the Rockets lost just twice in eight matches. Their bowling unit, anchored by Sciver-Brunt’s three wickets, had already set the tone, but the final confirmed their status as the competition’s most complete side. Sky Sports noted that Capsey’s opening spell of 3-6 from 15 balls set the platform, while Sciver-Brunt’s ability to rotate the strike through her death bowling restricted SunRisers to just 12 boundaries in their innings.

Leeds’ summer of transition

While Rockets celebrated, SunRisers’ defeat underscored a summer of flux for Leeds United, whose women’s team now faces an uncertain rebuild. The club’s men’s side, meanwhile, is in the midst of a defensive overhaul, with Nico Elvedi’s impending move from Borussia Mönchengladbach marking the most significant arrival since the club’s Premier League return. The Switzerland international, a 73-cap veteran and a World Cup squad member this summer, will undergo a medical on Monday ahead of an £8.5 million deal that includes £6.8 million upfront and £1.7 million in add-ons. Elvedi’s arrival signals Leeds’ intent to tighten a leaky defence, though the timing—just days before their league opener at Nottingham Forest—leaves little margin for error.

The men’s side’s defensive reshuffle extends beyond Elvedi. Fringe defender Sebastiaan Bornauw is set to join Hamburg on an initial loan with an option to buy, freeing up minutes for the new arrival. Farke’s cautious tone—”everything is only final once the medical checks are completed”—reflects the volatility of transfer windows, but the club’s hierarchy clearly views Elvedi as a cornerstone piece for a side aiming to consolidate in the top flight. BBC Sport reported that the defender’s versatility—having played at left-back, centre-back, and defensive midfield during his time in Germany—adds tactical depth to a squad that conceded 59 goals last season.

What comes next for both sides

For the Rockets, the challenge is to build on this triumph without resting on laurels. Their squad’s depth and tactical flexibility have been key, with Sky Sports highlighting how their ability to rotate bowlers in short bursts kept SunRisers’ batters guessing throughout the tournament. The Hundred’s short format demands ruthless efficiency in every match, and with the competition’s future still under review, this title could be their last hurrah in its current guise—making the victory bittersweet.

SunRisers, meanwhile, must regroup after a final that exposed their batting frailties. Davidson-Richards’ resistance offered a glimpse of resilience, but the lack of partnerships proved terminal. Their next steps will likely involve squad overhaul, with the club’s men’s side already plotting a defensive overhaul of its own. The Hundred’s women’s final may have been a one-sided affair, but the ripple effects—on and off the field—are only beginning to spread.

Leeds United’s season now shifts to a more familiar battleground: the Premier League. Their opening-day trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday will test Elvedi’s readiness, while Farke’s side will hope the new defender’s arrival can steady a defence that leaked 59 goals last term. The Hundred final may be over, but for both sides, the real work is just getting started.