Sunrisers Leeds close to qualification after Welsh Fire win at Headingley

Sunrisers Leeds signed off from Headingley with a perfect home record by thrashing Welsh Fire to put one foot in the knockout stages.

If Sunrisers beat Manchester Super Giants at Old Trafford on Tuesday, they will secure a spot in the top three. Even if they lose, they could still qualify because they increased their Net Run Rate (NRR) with a 71-run victory on Sunday afternoon. They could even finish top, and qualify directly for Sunday's final, if Southern Brave beat Trent Rockets on Monday night and they win in Manchester.

But this result was a significant blow to the Fire's hopes, and leaves them needing not only to beat London Spirit in their final home game on Wednesday afternoon, but to hope two other results fall in their favour in the final round of games.

This was a complete performance from Sunrisers, whose prolific opening partnership of Mitchell Marsh and Ryan Rickelton put them ahead of the game early on by adding 89 in the first 51 balls to set things up for their middle order.

Marsh was the Sunrisers' only batter to score with a strike rate below 180, scoring the most runs with 50 from 34 pitches. Rickelton sliced Chris Woakes to short third for 40 off 22, but that only brought in Harry Brook, who hit a typically flamboyant 23 off 11 balls before chipping Jordan Clark to mid-off.

Lockie Ferguson was the outstanding Fire bowler and had Marsh caught at mid-off, but Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence ensured that the fast start was not wasted: Crawley belted four sixes in his 12-ball 34, while Lawrence struck 29 off 15 as Sunrisers reached 200 for the second home game in a row.

Sam Cook had a rough day because he fell awkwardly after making a great diving catch at deep midwicket and gave up 60 runs in 20 balls, which were the most expensive bowling figures in the Hundred's six seasons to date.

In response, Matthew Short and Phil Salt were unable to break free, and the game was effectively over when Brydon Carse, who finished with 3 for 24, got rid of both of them to leave the innings at 73 for 2 off 58.

Nathan Ellis dismissed Joe Root and Rachin Ravindra in three balls to rubber stamp the victory and the Fire crawled to 130 for 6, their second heavy defeat in a row.