Manchester Super Giants women beat London Spirit, top standings

The Manchester Super Giants began their 2026 season in The Hundred with a commanding victory over London Spirit at Lord's Cricket Ground on Thursday, July 23. In the women's competition, the Super Giants secured a seven-wicket win with 41 balls to spare, bowling out the Spirit for 80 runs before chasing down the target in just 59 deliveries.

The result propelled the Manchester Super Giants women's team to the top of the early standings, level on four points with Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave. For London Spirit, the defeat left them in sixth place among the six teams that have commenced their campaigns. Ryana MacDonald-Gay was the standout bowler for the Super Giants, taking four wickets, while Marizanne Kapp fought a lone battle for the Spirit, scoring 17 runs and claiming two wickets. The chase was anchored by a stable opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Meg Lanning, with Richa Ghosh finishing the match with a rapid five-ball 15.

Later on the same day, the men's teams from the same franchises were scheduled to face each other in Match 3 of the men's competition at the same venue. The evening fixture at Lord's was set to feature a clash between two squads packed...