Rickelton, Carse Send Phoenix Crashing Out

 

Sunrisers Leeds are peaking at the right time.

 

After their record-breaking six-hitting show against London Spirit, they did not quite touch the same heights at Edgbaston — but they still produced their highest away total of the Men’s Hundred 2026, posting 169/7 and then defending it with authority. Birmingham Phoenix, meanwhile, suffered their fifth straight defeat, ending their disappointing campaign.

 

Rickelton Keeps the Fire Burning

 

Sunrisers were asked to bat first, but that did not slow them down.

 

Mitchell Marsh and Ryan Rickelton started sharply, putting on 52 for the opening wicket and taking Sunrisers to 46 in the Powerplay. Marsh did most of the early damage, scoring 34, before Usman Tariq cleaned him up.

 

Rickelton then became the main man. He hit six fours and three sixes, brought up his second consecutive half-century, and kept Sunrisers on course for a big score even as wickets fell around him.

 

Phoenix Pull It Back, But Not Enough

 

Birmingham Phoenix did have a good bowling phase at the death.

 

Sunrisers lost four wickets in 13 balls, including Rickelton through a run-out, and the boundaries briefly dried up. But Matthew Potts and Liam Patterson-White struck two sixes in the final three balls to drag the total to a strong 169/7.

 

For Phoenix, Usman Tariq was the best bowler on show, finishing with 2/28, while Tom Helm took 1/25.

 

Carse Breaks the Chase Open

 

Phoenix needed a fast start, but Sunrisers’ seamers made sure the chase never settled.

 

Brydon Carse bowled ten balls on the bounce at the start and eventually bounced out Mitchell Owen. Matthew Potts then had Will Smeed caught behind, before Carse removed Rehan Ahmed for a duck.

 

That burst gave Sunrisers control early, and Phoenix never really recovered.

 

Clarke and Dickson Fight, But the Rate Wins

 

Joe Clarke and Sean Dickson tried to rebuild with a 44-run partnership, but Phoenix were always behind the chase.

 

They reached only 63 at the halfway mark, and with Abrar Ahmed and Liam Patterson-White keeping the scoring tight, the required rate kept climbing. Clarke eventually holed out, and Carse returned to remove Donovan Ferreira with a slower ball — the wicket that effectively killed the chase.

 

No Boundary in the Final 15 Balls

 

Phoenix still had a flicker of hope through late hits from Dickson and Jordan Thompson, but Sunrisers closed the game ruthlessly.

 

Potts took two wickets in two balls to finish with 3/22, while Nathan Ellis did not concede a run in his final set of five. Most tellingly, Phoenix did not hit a single boundary in the last 15 balls of the innings.

 

Match Summary

 

Sunrisers Leeds: 169/7 in 100 balls

Ryan Rickelton 65, Mitchell Marsh 34

Usman Tariq 2/28, Tom Helm 1/25

 

Birmingham Phoenix: 124/8 in 100 balls

Sean Dickson 34, Jordan Thompson 25*

Brydon Carse 3/17, Matthew Potts 3/22, Abrar Ahmed 1/19

 

Result: Sunrisers Leeds won by 45 runs.

 

Interesting Angle for Sportish

 

The interesting part is how quickly Sunrisers Leeds have changed the mood of their campaign.

 

After another strong batting show and a complete bowling performance, they have moved to second on the points table, separated from MI London and Welsh Fire only by net run-rate. That makes this win more than just a knockout blow to Phoenix — it also puts Sunrisers firmly inside the playoff conversation.

 

Key Takeaway

 

Ryan Rickelton’s 65 and Brydon Carse’s 3/17 powered Sunrisers Leeds to a dominant 45-run win over Birmingham Phoenix. The result eliminated Phoenix from the knockout race and pushed Sunrisers up to second in the Men’s Hundred 2026 table.

 

Phoenix are out. Sunrisers are flying.

Ryan Rickelton smashed 65, Brydon Carse took 3/17, and Sunrisers Leeds crushed Birmingham Phoenix by 45 runs.

 

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