Ollie Pope delivered the decisive runs on the very last delivery, guiding MI London to a nail‑biting three‑wicket win over Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. The climax came when Pope, having been handed the strike after a daring single from Trent Boult, struck a clean slice that raced to the boundary for the winning two runs, clinching the match in spectacular fashion. The innings began with Southern Brave’s opening batsman Jamie Smith providing the early spark.
Smith, a Test‑level wicketkeeper, hammered an aggressive 49 runs off just 26 balls, falling just short of a half‑century. His brisk knock highlighted his growing credentials for a potential role in England’s limited‑overs squads.
Apart from Smith, the Brave’s only other noteworthy contribution came from Tristan Stubbs, who added 38 runs off 31 balls. The rest of the Southern lineup struggled to make an impact, resulting in a modest total of 129 for nine wickets after their allotted 100 balls. Bowling proved to be the decisive factor for MI London. New Zealand paceman Trent Boult was outstanding, returning figures of two wickets for just 15 runs.
His partner, England all‑rounder Sam Curran, also shone with two for 22. Their disciplined spell kept the Brave’s run‑rate in check and prevented any late‑innings surge that could have altered the contest. When MI London began their chase, they stumbled early.
Opening partner James Vince was dismissed for a duck, and his immediate successor, the explosive Nicholas Pooran, also fell without scoring on the very next ball. Both dismissals came at the hands of Marcus Stoinis, who claimed two wickets for 17 runs and caused a serious early wobble in the visiting side’s top order. The situation began to stabilise when captain Sam Curran, playing a calm and measured innings, contributed 30 runs off 29 balls.
He was ably supported by the in‑form opener Will Jacks, who produced a blistering 54 off just 41 deliveries, and Sherfane Rutherford, who added a quick‑fire 21 runs from 12 balls. Their partnership steadied the chase and brought the required run‑rate back within reach. However, the Brave fought back, applying pressure that left MI London needing six runs from the final five balls.
A pivotal moment arrived when Rashid Khan was dismissed, leaving the experienced New Zealander 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, thereby handing the strike to Ollie Pope. Pope, a former England batsman, faced the final delivery with the match on the line. He executed a perfectly timed slice, sending the ball into the outfield for a boundary, which secured the winning two runs and sealed a thrilling victory for MI London.
The win propelled MI London up to third place on The Hundred’s league table, putting them level on points with the league leaders Manchester Super Giants, albeit having played one fewer match. Southern Brave, on the other hand, suffered their third consecutive defeat and slipped to second‑from‑bottom in the standings.
Looking ahead, the league continues to showcase intense competition, with upcoming fixtures such as Sunrisers Leeds versus Manchester Super Giants in a double‑header that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from 3:00 pm. Fans can also follow the latest tables, squad announcements for the 2026 season, and a host of video highlights on the NOW platform, where The Hundred and other contract‑free cricket action are streamed. Overall, the match highlighted the importance of finishing ability in The Hundred format.
MI London’s resilience after early setbacks, combined with clutch performances from both bowlers and batsmen, underscored why the competition remains unpredictable and exciting. Ollie Pope’s composure under pressure will be remembered as a defining moment of the season, and his winning strike will likely be replayed countless times as a testament to the drama that short‑format cricket can produce.