London Spirit became the first team eliminated from The Hundred men’s competition following a four-wicket defeat by MI London. Played before a record crowd at Lord’s, the match saw MI London climb to second in the standings while London Spirit languished near the bottom.
The latest fixture in The Hundred men’s competition delivered high drama at Lord’s, where London Spirit hosted MI London in Match No. 23. Entering the contest at seventh in the standings with just one win from five matches, London Spirit faced steep odds to keep their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, MI London arrived holding third place in the points table, looking to cement their position in the upper tier.
Record Attendance and First-Innings Batting at Lord’s
A record crowd of 27,721 spectators turned out at Lord’s, marking an all-time attendance high for a group-stage match in the tournament. Early entertainment came from London Spirit opener Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, who smashed 52 runs off just 28 balls before falling to a sensational diving relay catch on the boundary by Will Jacks.
Teammate David Willey contributed 31 runs off 18 balls, and James Coles—noted as the most expensive player at the auction earlier in the year—added an unbeaten 30. Their efforts propelled London Spirit to a competitive total of 160-5 from their 100 balls. However, recurring inconsistencies under head coach Andy Flower continued to plague the side, leaving them with a single victory across six matches.
MI London’s Successful Run Chase and Counter-Attack
Chasing 161 for victory, MI London encountered early hurdles and required a demanding 70 runs from the final 37 balls. Sam Curran anchored the response with 33 runs, overcoming a slow start that saw him score just one run off his first seven deliveries. Nicholas Pooran contributed 39 runs before being run out by a brilliant piece of fielding from David Willey.
The momentum shifted decisively when Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza entered the crease for his first appearance of the campaign, replacing Rashid Khan. Raza launched a quickfire 32 off 16 balls, hammering four sixes to haul his team back into contention before falling with just six runs needed for victory. Tom Curran and newly recalled England Test player Ollie Pope then held their nerve, sealing the four-wicket victory with six balls to spare.
Standings Shift and Playoff Implications
With this outcome, London Spirit becomes the first side officially eliminated from the tournament. Conversely, the win boosts MI London’s knockout chances, lifting them to second place in the table. Prior to the match, historical head-to-head records favored MI London heavily across previous editions, with eight victories against London Spirit’s two wins since the fixture’s inception in July 2021.
