130/7 (20.0)
CR : 6.50
129/9 (20.0)
CR : 6.45
MI London won by 3 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Will Jacks
0/354(41)
Just a single off the penultimate ball. 2 runs needed off the last ball. Pope is on strike.
19.5
2
Nikhil Chaudhary to Ollie Pope
MI London Men don't make the same mistake as MI London Women! The visitors hold their nerve to clinch a thrilling three-wicket win on the last ball! On a length outside the off, turns in a tad to finish on the stumps. Pope weighs back and scythes it uppishly over the backward point region for a double. The fielder was inside the 30-yard circle, and the pair crossed over thrice in this case. But two runs are all that matter as Zaib chases and slides to pull the ball back! An enormous effort from the Southern Brave, but they end up finding themselves in the losing position. Pope and his experience do the job for MI London!
Over 20
MI London 130/7
Ollie Pope6(4)
Trent Boult1(2)
Nikhil Chaudhary1-21(15 b)
MIL won by 3 wickets
2:06 AM IST and 9:36 PM Local Time: Two games in Southampton, and two humdingers! What a day to breathe cricket in this part of Europe today. Firstly, the Southern Brave Women earned a one-run triumph and now, MI London chases down a tricky total on the last ball.
The game swung like a pendulum. Crests, troughs, but the wave kept oscillating. In the end, its the MI London that keeps calm and earn a sweet victory.
Arriving for a tricky chase, the MI London lost a couple of wickets after three watchful sets facing Jofra Archer and Luke Wood. Marcus Stoinis threatened with back-to-back wickets in the fourth set, adding pressure on the London side.
Subsequently, Will Jacks and Sam Curran, the old pair for the Oval Invincibles chalked out a terrific partnership to stabilise the stage. The pair was watchful initially before cashing on loosners and playing to their strength. This style of play pushed them to 54 runs in ten sets. 21 runs came in the next couple of overs and London needed 55 from the last eight sets with as many wickets remaining.
However, Sam Curran struggled to switch gears and played out safe. Eventually, Adil Rashid outfoxed him in the 14th set leaving 48 runs to be overhauled in the last 30 balls. Although Jacks traced to a well-knit half-century, he followed suit ten balls after Sam’s departure. Pushed on the back foot, Tom Curran played second fiddle to Sherfane Rutherford’s quickfire of 12-ball 21. However, he departed on the 88th ball, leaving twelve needed from the last ten balls. Surprisingly, Nikhil Chaudhary was sent in to bowl, and two wickets came in the next seven balls. Eventually, they needed 3 runs from a couple of balls. Trent Boult eked out a single before Ollie Pope slashed one over covers and sneaked a double to overhaul the total.
Earlier in the game, MI London put together a polished bowling performance to keep Southern Brave to 129 from their 100 deliveries. Trent Boult led the way with a superb new-ball spell, giving away just five runs in his first two sets while removing the in-form Ben McKinney to put the Brave on the back foot. Jamie Smith tried to shift the momentum with a lively 31 off 13 balls, but MI London responded brilliantly through Rashid Khan and Sam Curran, who tightened the screws after the powerplay.
Tristan Stubbs threatened to spark a late surge, only for Richard Gleeson to outfox Smith with a well-disguised slower ball at a crucial stage. From there, Southern Brave never really managed to kick on. David Miller couldn't find his rhythm, wickets kept falling, and Boult and Curran wrapped up the innings with a clinical finish. In the end, 129 felt a touch light, leaving MI London with the upper hand heading into the chase.
The game swung like a pendulum. Crests, troughs, but the wave kept oscillating. In the end, its the MI London that keeps calm and earn a sweet victory.
Arriving for a tricky chase, the MI London lost a couple of wickets after three watchful sets facing Jofra Archer and Luke Wood. Marcus Stoinis threatened with back-to-back wickets in the fourth set, adding pressure on the London side.
Subsequently, Will Jacks and Sam Curran, the old pair for the Oval Invincibles chalked out a terrific partnership to stabilise the stage. The pair was watchful initially before cashing on loosners and playing to their strength. This style of play pushed them to 54 runs in ten sets. 21 runs came in the next couple of overs and London needed 55 from the last eight sets with as many wickets remaining.
However, Sam Curran struggled to switch gears and played out safe. Eventually, Adil Rashid outfoxed him in the 14th set leaving 48 runs to be overhauled in the last 30 balls. Although Jacks traced to a well-knit half-century, he followed suit ten balls after Sam’s departure. Pushed on the back foot, Tom Curran played second fiddle to Sherfane Rutherford’s quickfire of 12-ball 21. However, he departed on the 88th ball, leaving twelve needed from the last ten balls. Surprisingly, Nikhil Chaudhary was sent in to bowl, and two wickets came in the next seven balls. Eventually, they needed 3 runs from a couple of balls. Trent Boult eked out a single before Ollie Pope slashed one over covers and sneaked a double to overhaul the total.
Earlier in the game, MI London put together a polished bowling performance to keep Southern Brave to 129 from their 100 deliveries. Trent Boult led the way with a superb new-ball spell, giving away just five runs in his first two sets while removing the in-form Ben McKinney to put the Brave on the back foot. Jamie Smith tried to shift the momentum with a lively 31 off 13 balls, but MI London responded brilliantly through Rashid Khan and Sam Curran, who tightened the screws after the powerplay.
Tristan Stubbs threatened to spark a late surge, only for Richard Gleeson to outfox Smith with a well-disguised slower ball at a crucial stage. From there, Southern Brave never really managed to kick on. David Miller couldn't find his rhythm, wickets kept falling, and Boult and Curran wrapped up the innings with a clinical finish. In the end, 129 felt a touch light, leaving MI London with the upper hand heading into the chase.
Will Jacks is the Player of the Match!
Will Jacks (Player of the Match): (How were the nerves at the end?) Yeah, very, very tight one at the end there. Very relieved just to get over the line. It was a hard-fought game. Tricky little surface; we had to pace the chase. Right now just happy to win.
(On the feeling going into the chase) We knew we were in the game; more so after the powerplay, they bowled Jof 10 early on. So we knew that later in the innings we'd be able to pounce.
(On his role with the bat) Well, we've spoken about how, sometimes, with the new ball in the Hundred, it can be almost the hardest time to bat, depending on the surface. I got out early in the last few games, so it was about assessing the conditions, taking it a bit deeper. Obviously, we lost two quick wickets, and I had to play that role.
(On which role he prefers) I've always been an opener, to be honest; whatever team I play for, I'll just do what is needed. My role for England is one that I've grown to absolutely love.
(On confidence taken from the win) That's a bit of a watershed moment; winning those kinds of games - it propels the group forward, and we're very happy.
(On the feeling going into the chase) We knew we were in the game; more so after the powerplay, they bowled Jof 10 early on. So we knew that later in the innings we'd be able to pounce.
(On his role with the bat) Well, we've spoken about how, sometimes, with the new ball in the Hundred, it can be almost the hardest time to bat, depending on the surface. I got out early in the last few games, so it was about assessing the conditions, taking it a bit deeper. Obviously, we lost two quick wickets, and I had to play that role.
(On which role he prefers) I've always been an opener, to be honest; whatever team I play for, I'll just do what is needed. My role for England is one that I've grown to absolutely love.
(On confidence taken from the win) That's a bit of a watershed moment; winning those kinds of games - it propels the group forward, and we're very happy.
Sam Curran (MI London Captain): "[Mood in the dugout towards the end] Yeah, what a game I guess. Credit to Southern Brave they dragged it back nicely. It just shows this format, I feel like when you are out of the game, somehow those 10 balls from one end, a little panic, you always stay in the game as a bowling side. I thought we bowled really well, I know we won this on the last ball but we were good throughout.
[Rutherford's cameo calmed the nerves?] It did a little bit. Me and Jacks kind of kept it under 60 off 40 balls. You worked out 3 sixes and it is back at a run-a-ball. So, I guess never felt we were under huge pressure. But the way he played, he got amazing swing similar to Nicholas Pooran. They strike the ball clean. Those little cameos in Hundred go unnoticed; we talked about it. Guys getting fifties like Jacksy did and others chipping around.
[On the pitch] It is a big ground. We didn't know how it was going to play. We had quality spinners, Rashid bowled really well. [Nathan] Sowter(s) hasn't had much bowling time but his time will come and I thought we used our change-ups and 130, we were happy with it.
[On consistent changes in the XI] I think Rutherford missed the first game. Today's line-up is what we are more comfortable with. We wanted Nicholas Pooran to face as many balls as possible. Against Welsh Fire, we had me, Pooran and Rutherford in the shed with 40 balls to play, you are thinking maybe we should have make that play earlier.
[On finding the right approach to bat] At the Oval, the new ball has done well. New season, new combination, after 2-3 games you kind of get an idea where you need to be."
[Rutherford's cameo calmed the nerves?] It did a little bit. Me and Jacks kind of kept it under 60 off 40 balls. You worked out 3 sixes and it is back at a run-a-ball. So, I guess never felt we were under huge pressure. But the way he played, he got amazing swing similar to Nicholas Pooran. They strike the ball clean. Those little cameos in Hundred go unnoticed; we talked about it. Guys getting fifties like Jacksy did and others chipping around.
[On the pitch] It is a big ground. We didn't know how it was going to play. We had quality spinners, Rashid bowled really well. [Nathan] Sowter(s) hasn't had much bowling time but his time will come and I thought we used our change-ups and 130, we were happy with it.
[On consistent changes in the XI] I think Rutherford missed the first game. Today's line-up is what we are more comfortable with. We wanted Nicholas Pooran to face as many balls as possible. Against Welsh Fire, we had me, Pooran and Rutherford in the shed with 40 balls to play, you are thinking maybe we should have make that play earlier.
[On finding the right approach to bat] At the Oval, the new ball has done well. New season, new combination, after 2-3 games you kind of get an idea where you need to be."
MI London continue their decent form in the tournament and reach the third position in the points table. They have gathered eight points from three games and have lost only one. On the flip side, the Southern Brave are yet to find a win, having played three games already. Tough times for them. Moreover, their batting has failed big time. Not a single batter has scored a fifty so far. The tourney moves on.
For now, that's it from the coverage. This is Arijit Kundu signing off on behalf of co-commentators Ajay Pal Singh, Rajarshi Das, and scorer Zeeshan Naiyer. Stay tuned to this network for more such cricketing infotainment.
For now, that's it from the coverage. This is Arijit Kundu signing off on behalf of co-commentators Ajay Pal Singh, Rajarshi Das, and scorer Zeeshan Naiyer. Stay tuned to this network for more such cricketing infotainment.