Rashid leads defence as Superchargers go top

An absorbing game in front of a capacity Leeds crowd finally went the way of Harry Brook's Superchargers, who claimed top spot outright in the men's Hundred following another scintillating batting performance against Birmingham Phoenix.

In pursuit of the Superchargers' 193 for 5 - the highest score in the men's tournament since the 2023 season - a magnificent partnership of 80 in just 42 balls between Phoenix's Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell briefly threatened to upset the odds, but the brilliance of Adil Rashid, who removed Bethell caught-and-bowled with 87 still needed from 38 balls, ultimately swung the momentum back to the home team.

Livingstone kept swinging after Bethell's departure but Rashid's guile was too much for the Phoenix hitters. In a game dominated by the bat, on a flat pitch with a lightning fast outfield, it was the great legspinner who once again proved to be the difference, outfoxing Livingstone with his 17th delivery to settle the contest.

The Phoenix top order again failed to fire, with three wickets falling in the powerplay - two of them to the excellent Matthew Potts, who finished up with three. Phoenix now face an uphill task to qualify for the latter stages of the competition.

With the bat, the Superchargers' superb top four were yet again irrepressible. Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan continued their fruitful opening partnership, adding 67 in 31 balls - Crawley was particularly savage on anything wide, racking up six fours and two sixes in his 23-ball stay - before Michael Pepper and then Brook took centre stage.

Brook opened his account with an outrageous scoop for six off his first ball, and finished with 31 from just 14 deliveries as the home side added 40 in the last 20 balls.

With three wins in four, Andrew Flintoff's team are emerging as one of the teams to beat in this year's tournament.

Rashid, named the Meerkat Match Hero, said: "I thought we played exceptionally well. We put a great score on the board, which allowed us bowlers to go out there and attack to take wickets. We've got world class players all the way through and great firepower in the middle order.

"I know their batters are going to come hard at me, so I need to be unpredictable and mix it up. It's useful for me because I've bowled to a lot of these boys in the nets, so I know their strengths and weaknesses as well, which all plays a part. You're always learning every day, and hopefully I'll keep learning until the day comes when I hang up the boots."