MI London kicked off their quest for a fourth straight Hundred championship with a dominant seven‑wicket win over SunRisers Leeds at the historic Kia Oval, marking a strong start to the revamped competition. The 2026 edition of The Hundred felt noticeably different, featuring fresh branding, new kits and a surge of overseas investment. Despite these changes, the team formerly known as the Oval Invincibles—now MI London—kept a core of familiar strengths that shone through on opening night.
Chasing a target of 144, the defending champions leaned heavily on an explosive fourth‑wicket partnership between Sam Curran, who smashed 60 runs off just 39 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, who added 58 from a blistering 22 deliveries. Their 93‑run stand steadied the innings after early wickets fell, allowing London to seal the victory with 16 balls still remaining. SunRisers Leeds were bowled out for 143 in 99 balls. Their innings was anchored by Mitchell Marsh, who struck 41 runs from 27 balls, and Ryan Rickelton, who contributed 25 off 16.
Both displayed aggressive intent, with Rickelton launching three sixes in a quick‑fire opening partnership of 40 runs with Marsh before being trapped lbw by a textbook slower ball from Sam Curran. England white‑ball captain Harry Brook, who replaced the dismissed Rickelton, survived only seven deliveries before being caught by Rashid Khan after a six off Nathan Sowter. Marsh attempted to steady the ship, hitting three fours and three sixes, but his momentum was halted when the Curran brothers combined to claim his wicket—Tom Curran’s slower delivery was edged to Sam at cover.
Captain Zak Crawley, who managed only 13 runs off 11 balls, could not generate enough momentum for the SunRisers, leaving Tom Alsop to chip in a quick 31 from 18 balls, helping the side post a respectable total before Richard Gleeson dismissed Nathan Ellis with the final ball of the innings. MI London’s chase began shakily when Brydon Carse dismissed both Will Jacks and Jason Roy with his sixth and eighth balls, creating early doubt. However, James Vince’s dismissal by Nathan Ellis was quickly offset by the steadying influence of Pooran and Curran. The pair forged a rapid 50‑run partnership in just 23 balls, turning the tide decisively.
Curran reached his half‑century in 34 balls, while Pooran accelerated to his fifty in a mere 19 deliveries. Together they struck ten fours and eight sixes, effectively sealing the win with ample overs to spare. After the match, MI London captain Sam Curran reflected on his role: "I spent a lot of last season working on my game, and my experience captaining Surrey in the Blast and the ILT20 has helped. I feel I can read the game well, both when batting and bowling.
There are many great voices around me, and it’s encouraging to start the tournament on a high note." Nicholas Pooran, named the Meerkat Match Hero, added: "I knew exactly what I had to do when I came in. We kept a positive mindset, focused on hitting boundaries and extending the partnership.
Scoring runs builds confidence, but winning is what matters most, and I’m thrilled we began the season with a home victory." The double‑header for Wednesday’s Hundred fixtures will follow the Utilita Bowl in Southampton, where Southern Brave face Welsh Fire. The women's match is slated for 2:45 pm, with the men's contest beginning at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports. Overall, MI London's blend of seasoned leadership, explosive batting and disciplined bowling set a benchmark for the rest of the tournament. Their ability to recover from early setbacks, combined with the firepower of Curran and Pooran, suggests they will remain strong contenders for the title as the season progresses.