MI London began their Hundred campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers at the Kia Oval on Tuesday evening, chasing down a target of 144 with 16 balls to spare in front of a crowd of 20,540. The result was shaped by a blistering partnership between Nicholas Pooran and Sam Curran that dismantled Sunrisers' bowling attack across the second half of the innings.

Sunrisers Set 144

Sunrisers posted a target of 144, and their bowlers made an encouraging start when they came to defend it. Brydon Carse was the standout with the ball for Sunrisers, returning figures of 2 for 18 from 20 balls — an exceptional economy rate that kept MI London under intense pressure in the powerplay phase. Carse removed Will Jacks in the sixth ball of the chase, angling one into the stumps before it seamed away, with Jacks spooning a catch to Benny Howell at cover. Jason Roy, playing on his 36th birthday, followed two balls later, edging a delivery that seamed away to Mitchell Marsh at slip. MI London were 8 for 2 after just ten balls.

Vince and Curran Steady the Chase

James Vince and Sam Curran came together with the asking rate climbing and the pitch playing slowly under the early conditions. Their partnership was measured rather than explosive, but it provided MI London with the platform they needed. Vince contributed 17 from 18 balls before Nathan Ellis bowled him through the gate — a delivery that nipped in with pace and took out off stump — leaving MI London at 51 for 3 after 44 deliveries, still needing 93 from the remaining 56 balls.

Curran, however, remained at the crease and continued to accumulate, reaching his fifty off 34 deliveries. His innings was built on measured aggression, picking off the fuller deliveries and waiting for the right ball to attack. A six launched over straight midwicket off Abrar Ahmed and a series of crisp boundaries through the off side were among the highlights of his knock.

Pooran Takes Over

Nicholas Pooran arrived at the crease at 51 for 3 and immediately shifted the tempo of the chase. With the floodlights on and the ball beginning to slide onto the bat more readily, Pooran accelerated in a manner Sunrisers had no answer for. He brought up the fastest fifty in the history of this franchise — MI London, previously Oval Invincibles — off just 19 balls, reaching the milestone with a single off Nathan Ellis.

The pair put on a fifty stand in just 23 deliveries. Pooran attacked the spin of Benny Howell with three successive boundaries — two fours and a six — and then turned on Abrar Ahmed, hitting consecutive sixes over square leg and long on. Against the pace of Matthew Potts and Ellis, he was equally brutal, thumping Potts over deep midwicket for six and flicking Ellis through fine leg for four. By the time Pooran reached the boundary off Potts to seal the win — 58 not out from 22 balls — MI London had overhauled the target with ease.

Sam Curran finished unbeaten on 60 from 39 balls, a knock that bridged the cautious early phase and the explosive finish. Together, the two left-handers put on an unbroken partnership of extraordinary striking to win the match by seven wickets. Sunrisers, who had looked well placed after Carse's early burst, found themselves without answers once the lights came on and MI London found their range.