Sikandar Raza smashed a rapid 32 off 16 balls to guide MI London past London Spirit by four wickets in a tense London derby at Lord’s on Thursday. MI London chased down 161 with six balls to spare, moving up to second in the Men’s Hundred table.
The result also confirmed London Spirit as the first side, men’s or women’s, to be officially eliminated from knockout contention this season.
Raza’s Cameo Seals Derby Points at Lord’s
Coming in as a replacement for Rashid Khan, who remains on international duty with Afghanistan, Raza turned the chase on its head just when MI London needed a spark. He struck sixes off his first, fourth and seventh balls, adding 41 runs off just 18 deliveries with captain Sam Curran and pulling the target down to 29 needed off 20 balls. One of those hits, a 105-metre strike off James Coles, nearly cleared the Lord’s boundary rope entirely.
Raza eventually fell for 32, caught by Joe Moores off Adam Milne, but by then the damage was done. Ollie Pope finished the job with 10 balls remaining. Speaking after the match, Raza said he had flown in from Sri Lanka only four days earlier and wasn’t entirely sure what day it was, adding that he simply closed his eyes and swung as hard as he could.
Pretorius Half-Century Lifts Spirit to 160
Batting first after MI London won the toss and chose to field, London Spirit built their innings around a fine 52 from Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who reached his fifty off just 27 balls. His innings ended in spectacular fashion when Will Jacks overbalanced on the boundary, threw the ball up in the air and dived full length to complete a one-handed catch. David Willey then added 31, but the early losses of Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis meant Spirit never built the momentum they wanted.
It took a late push from Jamie Overton and James Coles, playing his first knock of real substance since his £390,000 signing in March’s auction, to lift the total to a competitive 160 for 5 in front of a record group-stage crowd of 27,721.
Wickets Fall in Rhythm During MI London Chase
MI London’s reply began with fireworks and setbacks in equal measure. Matt Fisher, named earlier in the day in England’s Test squad, was smashed for six by Jacks off his very first ball, only to be removed the next delivery when Milne took the catch.
Mason Crane, brought in for the out-of-form Adam Zampa, struck immediately as well, removing his former Hampshire captain James Vince while conceding just three runs in his opening ten balls.
Nicholas Pooran, playing his first-ever match at Lord’s, looked in good touch alongside Sam Curran before Willey produced a stunning mid-air run-out to dismiss him. Curran fell soon after for 33, and Sherfane Rutherford departed cheaply, but Raza’s late assault ensured MI London reached the target with balls to spare.
Tensions boiled over as players from both sides exchanged words while leaving the field, capping off a fiercely contested affair between the two London franchises.
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