 |
| Pooran and Curran power MI London to a winning start in The Hundred 2026 © ECB |
The opening night of The Men’s Hundred 2026 provided an electric atmosphere at The Oval, where MI London executed a remarkable recovery to defeat the Sunrisers Leeds by seven wickets. A brilliant, unbroken partnership between Nicholas Pooran and Sam Curran rescued the hosts from a precarious start, ensuring they successfully chased down the 144-run target with a comfortable 16 balls to spare.
Early Setbacks Rock the MI London Chase
The run chase began disastrously for MI London. Tasked with pursuing 144, their top order crumbled against a fierce opening burst from the Sunrisers Leeds bowling attack.
Fast bowler Brydon Carse was exceptional with the new ball, consistently hitting speeds around 90mph. His raw pace was too much for the openers, as he quickly dismissed both Will Jacks and Jason Roy within the first ten deliveries of the innings.
The pressure intensified when Nathan Ellis delivered a
magnificent incoming ball that crashed into James Vince's stumps. According to
match reports from Cricbuzz, this left MI London in deep trouble at 51 for 3,
handing full momentum to the visitors.
The Curran and Pooran Show: A Game-Changing Partnership
Just as the Sunrisers Leeds looked poised to dominate, the left-handed combination of Sam Curran and Nicholas Pooran completely altered the match's trajectory. Coming together with 93 runs still needed off 56 balls, the duo launched a devastating counter-attack.
- Sam Curran: The captain played the anchor role initially before accelerating, mixing calculated aggression with intelligent strike rotation. He finished unbeaten on 60 off just 39 deliveries.
- Nicholas Pooran: The explosive West Indian took immediate charge, targeting Benny Howell for 15 runs early in his innings. He then launched a relentless assault on Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, and Abrar Ahmed.
Pooran's half-century arrived in a mere 19 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty by an Oval-based player in the tournament. He concluded the match with a boundary off Potts, remaining not out on 58 from only 22 balls. Together, they forged a staggering 93-run stand in just 40 balls.
Sunrisers Leeds Falter After a Strong Start
Earlier in the evening, Sunrisers Leeds seemed destined for a massive total after winning the toss and electing to bat. Openers Ryan Rickelton and Mitchell Marsh were aggressive from the outset.
Rickelton was particularly destructive, smashing three sixes in a quick-fire 25 off 16 balls before being trapped lbw by Sam Curran. Marsh, however, continued the momentum, building a solid platform alongside Harry Brook.
As reports, Sunrisers Leeds reached a
commanding 84 for 2 after 55 balls. Marsh was eventually dismissed for 41 off
27 balls, deceived by a slower delivery from Tom Curran and caught by his
brother, Sam.
The complexion of the game changed the moment Pooran walked in.
Richard Gleeson Tears Through the Middle Order
Following Marsh's departure, the Sunrisers Leeds innings suffered a catastrophic collapse, heavily orchestrated by Richard Gleeson.
- Gleeson quickly removed key batsmen Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, and Benny Howell.
- The visitors plummeted from a strong 84 for 2 to a vulnerable 95 for 6.
- Gleeson finished with outstanding figures of 4 for 25.
Tom Alsop provided late resistance with a spirited cameo,
hitting three sixes in a brisk 31 off 18 balls. However, precise death bowling
from Trent Boult and a final strike from Gleeson ensured Sunrisers Leeds were
bowled out for 143, losing their final three wickets for just 11 runs.
Ultimately, this total proved insufficient against the sheer firepower of the
MI London middle order.