MI London saw their hopes of securing a fourth consecutive Hundred title fade after a hard‑fought win against league‑bottom Birmingham Phoenix in the final men’s group fixture. The match, played under a rare solar eclipse at Edgbaston, turned into a high‑stakes showdown because the London side needed a massive margin to stay in contention. After winning the toss, Phoenix elected to field, meaning MI London had to chase a target that would not only win the game but also improve their net run rate enough to overtake SunRisers Leeds for the third spot and a place in the play‑offs on their home ground. The visitors set a modest total of 157 for six wickets.
In order to qualify, they calculated that they must hold Phoenix to 98 runs or fewer, which required a winning margin of at least 59 runs. Early in the innings, MI London’s bowlers struck with three wickets in the powerplay, giving them a surge of confidence.
Sikandar Raza produced a brilliant spell, clean‑bowling Joe Clarke and then seeing Richard Gleeson dismiss Mitchell Owen and Laurie Evans with consecutive deliveries. Those wickets elevated Raza to the top of the tournament’s wicket‑taking chart with 14 dismissals. Phoenix, however, steadied their chase through a resilient partnership between Jake Weatherley and Sean Dickson. Their steady accumulation pushed the score past the crucial 98‑run threshold, and a wide from Tom Curran gave Phoenix a final tally of 99, snatching the win from MI London’s grasp by the narrowest of margins.
The result left London’s campaign hanging by a thread. Dickson, who had contributed 23 runs off 17 balls, fell lbw to Sam Curran.
Curran then claimed Weatherley, who had made 42 off 31, caught deep, causing the momentum to shift. Jordan Thompson (23 off 13) and Rehan Ahmed (23 off 11) added quick runs, but the experienced Trent Boult held his nerve in the death overs, delivering precise yorkers that sealed a two‑run victory for Phoenix.
Earlier in the innings, MI London’s top order showed promise. Will Jacks got off to a solid start before being dismissed by Chris Wood, who trapped him after a mistimed slice to deep point. James Vince appeared in fine touch, and Nicholas Pooran announced his arrival with a blistering 10‑run burst off two balls, only for Tom Helm to respond with a back‑of‑the‑hand slower ball that dismissed Vince for 22 off 12. Rehan Ahmed then applied the brakes on Phoenix’s scoring, deceiving Sam Curran with a well‑timed googly and delivering three runs in his first ten balls, including six consecutive dot balls.
The match also featured a handful of notable cameo performances. Raza added 17 runs off 13 balls, while debutant Ollie Sykes contributed a quick 23 not out from 14 deliveries. Tom Curran chipped in with 17 not out off nine balls, but the overall total never seemed sufficient to produce the miracle run‑chase London required. With the reigning champions now out, SunRisers Leeds will face Manchester Super Giants at The Kia Oval on Friday evening, with the winner earning a place in the Lord’s final against Trent Rockets.
Gleeson summed up the disappointment: "Winning five games and still missing out when two other sides have the same record is frustrating, but it underlines the depth of this competition. You have to be at your best in every phase – a 30‑run burst or a 50‑run collapse can decide your fate." The situation mirrored that of Welsh Fire and London Spirit’s men’s teams, who also found themselves on the brink of elimination. While Fire’s chances of qualifying remained mathematically alive, they would have required a record‑breaking victory margin, given that their four wins had all been narrow and their defeats heavy. Nevertheless, both sides displayed fighting spirit in front of enthusiastic crowds.
London Spirit defended a modest 131, securing their third win of the campaign. After winning the toss, they chose to bowl, and Chris Woakes immediately shone, curbing the explosive partnership of Jonny Bairstow and Lhuandre Pretorius. His pressure allowed Lockie Ferguson to claim the South African after a dropped catch, further destabilising the Phoenix chase.
The powerplay yielded 34‑1, with Bairstow scoring 22 off 11 before being dismissed for 34 off 19. Marco Jansen bowled ten dot balls in his first fifteen deliveries, helping the Fire to 59‑3 and a brief ascendancy.
However, Spirit’s leading run‑scorers Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis fell cheaply, and James Coles managed only 29 before being caught by Jansen at long‑off. Jamie Overton’s long‑handle delivery could not prevent a final score of 131‑8, a total that felt light given the low scoring rate of both Woakes and Jansen. When it was Fire’s turn to bat, they lost Matt Short early, but Phil Salt and Joe Root steadied the innings, suggesting that a few wickets in hand would be enough to chase the modest target.
At 90‑2 after 69 balls, with Jordan Cox accelerating, the chase seemed on track. Yet the partnership unraveled as Root (31 off 31) and Cox (44 off 28) fell, and the lower order – Kohler‑Cadmore, Ravindra and Jansen – could not add the necessary runs in the final eight balls. Fire fell short by six runs, ending their hopes of progressing. The Hundred will continue through to the finals on Sunday, 16 August, with live coverage available on Sky Sports and streaming options on NOW.
Fans are encouraged to use Chrome for the best video experience.