Ollie Pope delivered the decisive blows on the very last delivery, steering MI London to a nail‑biting three‑wicket win over Southern Brave at Southampton's Utilita Bowl. The climax came when Pope, after a tense chase, struck the final ball for two runs, clinching the match in dramatic fashion. The innings began with Southern Brave’s opening batsman Jamie Smith providing the early spark. Smith hammered a brisk 49 runs off just 26 balls, playing a range of attacking strokes that kept the scoreboard ticking.
Despite falling just one run shy of a half‑century, his effort set a solid platform and reinforced his growing reputation as a potential white‑ball asset for England. The Brave’s middle order, however, failed to build on that start. Tristan Stubbs contributed a useful 38 from 31 balls, but beyond his knock the rest of the lineup struggled to make an impact, leaving the team with a modest total.
The bowlers for MI London made the most of the conditions. New Zealand paceman Trent Boult was exceptionally economical, returning figures of two wickets for just 15 runs. England all‑rounder Sam Curran also shone, picking up two wickets while conceding only 22 runs. Their disciplined spell forced Southern Brave into a sub‑par total of 129 for nine wickets after the full allocation of 100 balls, a score that would prove insufficient in the high‑octane format of The Hundred.
When MI London began their chase, the start was anything but smooth. Their opening pair, James Vince and Nicholas Pooran, were both dismissed for ducks on consecutive deliveries, both falling to the accurate medium‑pace of Marcus Stoinis, who claimed figures of three wickets for 17 runs.
The early blow put the visitors under immediate pressure, as they lost two key top‑order batsmen without adding to the run tally. The innings steadied when captain Sam Curran arrived at the crease. Curran, playing a measured 30 runs off 29 balls, anchored the chase and provided much‑needed stability.
He was ably supported by the explosive opening performance of Will Jacks, who smashed 54 runs from just 41 balls, showcasing a blend of power hitting and clever placement. Adding further momentum, Sherfane Rutherford contributed a rapid 21 runs from only 12 deliveries, keeping the required run rate within reach. Despite these contributions, the Brave managed to apply pressure in the middle overs, and the equation tightened to six runs needed from the final five balls.
The tension peaked when Rashid Khan, who had been a wicket‑taking threat throughout the match, was dismissed, leaving the tail‑ender Trent Boult at the crease with three runs required from three balls. Boult, known more for his bowling than his batting, displayed composure by taking a single on the first of those deliveries, thereby handing the strike to Ollie Pope. Pope, a former England batsman with a reputation for calm under pressure, faced the final ball.
He sliced it square of the wicket into the outfield, allowing the ball to race to the boundary and securing the winning two runs for MI London. The crowd erupted as the team celebrated a thrilling, edge‑of‑the‑seat finish. This win propelled MI London up to third place on The Hundred league table, putting them level on points with the leaders, Manchester Super Giants, although they have played one game fewer.
The victory also marked a significant morale boost for the side, demonstrating their ability to chase down targets under intense pressure. Conversely, Southern Brave suffered their third consecutive defeat, slipping to second‑from‑bottom in the standings and prompting questions about their batting depth and strategy moving forward. Looking ahead, MI London will aim to maintain their momentum as the competition intensifies. Their balanced combination of aggressive top‑order hitters, disciplined bowlers, and experienced all‑rounders like Sam Curran provides a solid foundation for the remaining fixtures.
For Southern Brave, the focus will likely shift to regrouping and finding consistency in both batting and bowling departments, as they seek to halt their losing streak. The Hundred continues to deliver high‑energy cricket, with upcoming matches featuring double‑header events such as Sunrisers Leeds versus Manchester Super Giants, broadcast live on Sky Sports from 3:00 pm. Fans can also stream all action, including this dramatic encounter, on the NOW platform, where they can catch highlights, interviews, and in‑depth analysis of the tournament's latest developments.