MI London kicked off their quest for a fourth straight Hundred championship with a dominant seven‑wicket triumph over SunRisers Leeds at The Kia Oval, signalling that the revamped competition – now sporting fresh branding and new kits after a surge of overseas investment – still holds space for familiar excellence. The former Oval Invincibles, now rebranded as MI London, showed that while the league’s exterior may have changed, the core of their winning formula remains intact.
Facing a target of 144 runs on the opening night, MI London’s chase was anchored by a scintillating 93‑run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sam Curran, who smashed 60 runs off just 39 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, who contributed a rapid 58 from only 22 deliveries. Their aggressive stand helped the defending champions absorb early setbacks – the loss of Will Jacks and Jason Roy – and cruise to victory with 16 balls to spare. **SunRisers Leeds innings (143/9 off 99 balls)** - Mitchell Marsh: 41 off 27 balls, displaying power hitting with three fours and three sixes. - Ryan Rickelton: 25 off 16 balls, adding a quick 40‑run opening partnership with Marsh, highlighted by three towering sixes before being caught lbw by Curran’s signature slower ball.
- Tom Alsop: 31 off 18 balls, the top‑order stabiliser after the early wickets fell. - Bowling highlights for MI London: Richard Gleeson claimed 4 wickets for 25 runs, while Sam Curran chipped in with 2 for 27. The SunRisers, who entered the tournament under the Northern Superchargers banner last season, were bowled out in 99 deliveries. Their innings featured a brief blaze from Mitchell Marsh, who, after a solid start, fell to a cleverly executed slower‑ball dismissal by the Curran brothers.
England’s white‑ball captain Harry Brook, drafted in as a replacement, survived only seven balls before Rashid Khan clean‑bowled him on the eighth delivery after Brook had smashed a six off Nathan Sowter. **MI London chase (144/3 off 84 balls)** - Sam Curran: 60 not out off 39 balls, guiding the chase with a blend of power and composure.
- Nicholas Pooran: 58 not out off 22 balls, delivering a blistering strike rate that kept the required run rate comfortably low. - Brydon Carse: 2 for 18, providing early breakthroughs by dismissing Jacks and Roy with his sixth and eighth balls.
- Nathan Ellis: 1 for 22, contributing a key wicket by removing James Vince. The early phase of the chase saw MI London wobble when Carse struck early, removing both Jacks and Roy in quick succession.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically when James Vince fell to Ellis’s bowling. At that juncture, Pooran and Curran steadied the ship, forging a rapid 50‑run partnership in just 23 balls.
Curran reached his half‑century in 34 balls, while Pooran arrived at his fifty in a mere 19 deliveries, together dispatching ten fours and eight sixes to seal the win with ample overs to spare. **Post‑match reflections** *Sam Curran, MI London captain:* "Last year I worked on a few aspects of my game, and my experience captaining Surrey in the Blast and the ILT20 has helped. I feel I can read the match situation well, both as a batsman and a bowler.
There are many strong voices in the dressing room, and I’m fortunate to have such intelligent minds around me. It feels great to start the tournament on a high note." *Nicholas Pooran, Meerkat Match Hero:* "I came in and did exactly what the team needed. We tried to stay positive, hit a few boundaries, and push the partnership forward. Scoring runs builds confidence, but winning is what matters most, and I’m thrilled we’ve begun the season with a win at home." The double‑header on Wednesday continues with the Utilita Bowl in Southampton, where Southern Brave will face Welsh Fire.
The women's fixture is slated for 2:45 pm, followed by the men’s match at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest updates, videos, analysis, and more. Overall, MI London’s opening performance underscores their intent to dominate the 2026 Hundred season, blending experienced leadership with explosive batting firepower.
Their ability to recover from early wickets and accelerate the scoring rate will be a benchmark for other teams as the tournament unfolds.