Lord’s to host The Hundred 2026 finals with Trent Rockets awaiting opponents
The Hundred 2026 season is set to conclude with a double-header of finals at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday, August 16. Trent Rockets have secured their place in both the men’s and women’s finals after topping their respective tables during the league phase.
In the men’s competition, the Manchester Super Giants will face the Trent Rockets in the final. This matchup was confirmed after the Manchester Super Giants achieved a 20-run victory over SunRisers Leeds in the men’s Eliminator match on Friday. The Trent Rockets had a strong league performance, breezing through that phase of the competition.
The women’s final will see Trent Rockets take on SunRisers Leeds. SunRisers Leeds secured their spot by defeating Southern Brave with a five-wicket victory in their Eliminator match. Both finals are scheduled for Sunday, August 16, with the women’s final commencing at 2.15pm and the men’s final at 6pm.
Key Players and Matchups
The men’s final is expected to feature a clash between the powerful batting unit of Manchester Super Giants and the all-round strength of Trent Rockets. For the Manchester Super Giants, key batters include Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, and Tim Seifert. On the Trent Rockets side, captain Sam Billings, who is seeking his fourth consecutive title, will lead a team that includes England opener Ben Duckett, New Zealand’s Finn Allen, and Australian all-rounder Tim David.
In the women’s final, Trent Rockets will be led by Australia vice-captain Ash Gardner and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. They will face a significant challenge from SunRisers Leeds, who boast Phoebe Litchfield, identified as the competition’s standout batter. Litchfield, an Australian player, has accumulated a tournament-leading 293 runs across nine games, maintaining a strike rate of 169.3, and her performance could be crucial in determining the outcome.
League Stage Dynamics and MI London’s Exit
The league stage of The Hundred 2026 saw a particularly close finish, especially in the men’s competition. Trent Rockets finished at the top of the table with 24 points, securing six wins from their eight matches, which granted them a direct entry into the final. However, the battle for the remaining playoff spots was fiercely contested among three teams that all finished on 20 points: Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds, and MI London.
Despite matching the points total of Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds with five wins and three defeats, MI London, the defending champions, were eliminated from the title race. Their net run rate (NRR) of 0.241 was not sufficient to advance, falling behind Manchester Super Giants‘ 0.791 and Sunrisers Leeds‘ 0.603. This outcome has reignited discussions regarding the impact of net run rate in a competition with a limited number of group matches.
The format of the tournament rewards teams that not only win consistently but also achieve convincing victories. Conversely, it can penalise teams whose margins of victory or defeat are not as substantial, even if their overall points tally is competitive. For MI London, a stronger win or a more significant defeat inflicted on an opponent during the league stage could have altered their position in the standings. The team finished ahead of Welsh Fire, Southern Brave, London Spirit, and Birmingham Phoenix on points, but this was not enough to secure a playoff berth.
The standings illustrate the fine margins in the competition, with three teams ending on 20 points but only two progressing to the knockout stages. MI London‘s exit marks a season that concluded with a challenging detail: 20 points and five wins, yet no place in the Eliminator. The finals will also feature a performance by Ella Eyre, known for hits like ‘Came here for love’ and ‘Answerphone’.
Previous Winners
The history of The Hundred shows a varied list of champions. In the men’s competition, previous winners include:
- 2021: Southern Brave
- 2022: Trent Rockets
- 2023: Oval Invincibles (now MI London)
- 2024: Oval Invincibles (now MI London)
- 2025: Oval Invincibles (now MI London)
For the women’s competition, the past champions are:
- 2021: Oval Invincibles (now MI London)
- 2022: Oval Invincibles (now MI London)
- 2023: Southern Brave
- 2024: London Spirit
- 2025: Northern Superchargers (now SunRisers Leeds)
The finals will be broadcast live from Lord’s on Sunday, August 16.
Source: skysports.com
Priya Menon 