Sunrisers thump Fire to close in on qualificationFigure caption, Sunrisers move closer to knockouts with huge win over Welsh FireByMike PeterBBC Sport journalistPublished2 hours agoThe Hundred men’s competition, HeadingleySunrisers Leeds 201-4 (100 balls): Marsh 50 (34); Woakes 2-41Welsh Fire 130-6 (100 balls): Short 43 (29); Carse 3-24Sunrisers Leeds won by 71 runsScorecard. Table
Sunrisers Leeds moved closer to securing qualification for The Hundred’s knockout stages with a comprehensive 71-run win over Welsh Fire.
Mitch Marsh, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, struck his fourth half-century of the season for second-placed Sunrisers as they made 201-4.
The Australian opener hit a 34-ball 50 and added 89 for the first wicket with Ryan Rickelton.
Chris Woakes, who took 2-41, claimed the breakthrough when he had Rickelton caught for 40, while Harry Brook (23 from 11 balls) and Marsh fell within the space of five balls, caught off Jordan Clark and Lockie Ferguson respectively.
Captain Zak Crawley struck four sixes in a 12-ball 34 as Sunrisers pressed on, while Dan Lawrence (29) and Matthew Revis (15) ended the innings with an unbroken partnership of 27.
Fifth-placed Fire were unable to keep up with the required run-rate in their reply as only Matt Short (43) and Joe Root (31), who put on 49 for the second wicket, made more than 13.
Short was one of three victims for Brydon Carse, who also removed opener Phil Salt (13) and Marco Jansen (1).
Root was caught behind off Nathan Ellis, who also bowled Rachin Ravindra for two, while Jordan Cox also fell cheaply, caught for 12 off Matthew Potts.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Woakes both finished unbeaten on 13 as Fire closed on 130-6, well short of their target.
Sunrisers now only need to avoid defeat against Manchester Super Giants on Tuesday to progress, while victory would put them in contention for top spot should leaders Trent Rockets lose against Southern Brave on Monday.
Fire, who would have moved second with a win on Sunday, are the lowest placed of three teams on 16 points and will likely need success against London Spirit on Wednesday and then rely on net run-rate to secure the final knockout spot.
