In a dazzling display at Lord's, MI London clinched a vital victory that propelled them to second place in the standings while consigning London Spirit to an early exit from The Hundred. The match, which attracted a record group‑stage crowd of 27,721 spectators, was defined by a masterclass from Zimbabwean all‑rounder Sikandar Raza, whose performance proved decisive in the chase. Spirit entered the encounter needing a win to stay alive after a heavy defeat at the hands of SunRisers Leeds earlier in the week.
They made three changes to their line‑up, hoping fresh faces would spark a revival. However, despite the electric atmosphere, the home side struggled to build any real momentum against a disciplined MI London bowling unit that kept the ball well away from the shorter boundaries.
With star leg‑spinner Rashid Khan away on international duty for Afghanistan, MI London turned to Raza as a replacement. The Zimbabwean rose to the occasion, contributing both with the ball and the bat. His disciplined spell forced Spirit into a series of cautious strokes, preventing them from taking advantage of the field dimensions. Lhuan‑Dre Pretorius managed a composed half‑century, but his innings flickered rather than flared, and it was ultimately cut short by a spectacular one‑handed catch by Will Jacks, who overbalanced, tossed the ball into the air and dived full length to complete the dismissal.
Raza reflected on his debut, saying, "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." The early part of Spirit's innings was hampered by the loss of power‑hitter Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis, both of whom fell quickly, leaving the team without the firepower needed to post a challenging total.
David Willey fought back, reaching 31 runs with some hard‑hitting, but the early setbacks meant Spirit never quite got the platform they required. Late‑stage resistance from Jamie Overton and James Coles added valuable runs, with Coles delivering his most substantial innings for the side to date.
Their aggressive finishing pushed Spirit to a respectable 160‑5. Chasing 161 at Lord's, MI London faced the task of achieving the highest successful run chase ever recorded in the men's Hundred competition.
The opening overs saw Matt Fisher, recently named in England's Test squad, fall for a six off his first ball, a delivery that sailed over his head and into the hands of Jacks. However, Fisher redeemed himself immediately by dismissing Adam Milne on the very next ball. Nicholas Pooran, making his Lord's debut, settled in quickly, while Mason Crane – drafted in for Adam Zampa – produced a superb opening spell.
Crane's leg‑spin was lethal, taking former captain James Vince with his very first delivery and conceding just three runs in his first ten balls. Pooran and captain Sam Curran then accelerated the chase, building momentum as the required run rate ticked down. Willey added a flash of brilliance with a dazzling run‑out, releasing the ball mid‑air and diving to effect the dismissal. Yet his departure only opened the door for Raza, who entered the fray alongside Curran, forming a dangerous left‑right partnership.
Raza wasted no time, blasting his first, fourth and seventh balls for sixes, and his explosive 41‑run stand with Curran, scored from just 18 deliveries, left MI London needing 29 runs from the final 20 balls. The tide turned again when Curran dispatched a deep‑point shot off Overton for a boundary, while Sherfane Rutherford fell for a golden duck. James Coles then bowled a tight spell, conceding just 18 runs from five balls, but Raza answered with a colossal 105‑metre six that nearly cleared the ground, further tilting the balance in MI London's favour. Although Raza was out with ten balls remaining, Ollie Pope took charge, calmly steering the team home and sealing a memorable victory.
After the match, both London sides exchanged words on the field, the encounter having been both fiery and, at moments, contentious. For Spirit, the loss marked the end of their campaign, extinguishing any hope of advancing further in the tournament. Looking ahead, Friday will feature a double‑header: Birmingham Phoenix's women's team will host SunRisers Leeds at 3 p.m., followed by the men's sides meeting at 6.30 p.m., with both fixtures broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans can continue to follow every Hundred match through to the finals on Sunday, 16 August, with live streaming available on NOW, free of contractual obligations.
The latest tables show MI London solidifying their position near the top, while Spirit's early exit reshapes the dynamics of the group stage. As the competition progresses, the stakes will only rise, promising more thrilling cricket, dramatic chases, and unforgettable moments for supporters across the UK.