Sikandar Raza delivered a masterclass performance that propelled MI London to a vital win, lifting them to second place in the standings and consigning London Spirit to an early exit from The Hundred. The match, staged at Lord's, attracted a record group‑stage crowd of 27,721 spectators, underscoring the growing popularity of the competition. Spirit entered the game needing a victory after a heavy defeat to SunRisers Leeds earlier in the week.
In an effort to turn the tide, they made three alterations to their XI, but the changes were insufficient to overcome MI London's disciplined display. MI London, missing their marquee leg‑spinner Rashid Khan due to international duties with Afghanistan, turned to the Zimbabwean all‑rounder Sikandar Raza to fill the void. Raza rose to the occasion, contributing both with the ball and the bat. His bowling spell was meticulously controlled; he kept the ball away from the shorter side of the ground, denying Spirit any easy boundaries.
This strategy forced the Spirit innings to sputter rather than blaze, even though South African batsman Lhuan‑Dre Pretorius managed a composed half‑century. Pretorius' innings was ultimately cut short by a spectacular catch from MI London’s Will Jacks, who over‑balanced, tossed the ball into the air, and dove full‑length to secure the wicket with a single hand. Reflecting on his debut, Raza said, "Four days ago I was in Sri Lanka and I'm not really sure what day or date it is but it's nice to be part of The Hundred and have a debut like that. I couldn't have asked for a better start – really I just closed my eyes and swung as hard as I could!
It was nice to get a few out of the middle and you need to remember the complexion of a game can completely change in 10 balls." His words captured the sudden swing in momentum that defined the encounter. Spirit’s early batting was hampered by the loss of power hitters Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis, both dismissed cheaply.
David Willey tried to steady the ship, hammering 31 runs, but the early setbacks meant the team could never build a competitive total. Late resistance from Jamie Overton and James Coles added some stability; Coles, in particular, produced his most substantial innings for the side, pushing the score to a respectable 160‑5.
Matt Fisher, who had just been named in England’s Test squad, made a brief but memorable appearance for Spirit. His first ball was dispatched for six over his own head by Will Jacks, but he quickly redeemed himself by taking the wicket of Adam Milne on the very next delivery. When MI London began their chase, Nicholas Pooran, making his Lord's debut, quickly found his rhythm. Meanwhile, Mason Crane, drafted in for Adam Zampa, delivered an impressive opening spell, dismissing former captain James Vince with his first delivery and conceding just three runs in his first ten balls.
Pooran and captain Sam Curran accelerated the chase, but the contest grew increasingly heated. Willey produced a moment of brilliance by effecting a run‑out after releasing the ball mid‑air while diving, showcasing his athleticism.
Raza then joined the chase, forming a dangerous left‑right partnership with Curran. He made an immediate impact, hitting sixes off his first, fourth, and seventh balls. Their explosive 41‑run stand from just 18 deliveries left MI London needing 29 runs from the final 20 balls.
Curran continued the on‑slaught, pulling a ball to deep point for a boundary, while Spirit’s Sherfane Rutherford fell for a golden duck. James Coles, now bowling for Spirit, gave away 18 runs in just five balls, including a colossal 105‑metre six from Raza that nearly cleared the ground.
Although Raza was dismissed with ten balls remaining, Ollie Pope stepped in calmly, guiding the final runs to secure a memorable victory for MI London. The match concluded with both London sides exchanging words on the field after a fiery and occasionally contentious encounter. For London Spirit, the defeat extinguished any hopes of advancing further in the tournament. The next round of action will see Birmingham Phoenix women host SunRisers Leeds in a double‑header on Friday, followed by the men’s fixtures later that evening, both broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Fans can continue to follow every match of The Hundred up to the finals on Sunday, August 16, with live streaming available on NOW, offering a contract‑free way to keep up with the excitement of the competition.