MI London completed a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers at the Kia Oval, reaching their target of 144 with 16 deliveries remaining. Nicholas Pooran's unbeaten 58 from 22 deliveries was the centrepiece of the chase, arriving at a critical moment and steering his side home alongside captain Sam Curran, who finished on 60 not out from 39 deliveries.
Sunrisers Put MI Under Early Pressure
Sunrisers posted 143, and their bowlers made life difficult for MI London in the opening phase of the chase. Brydon Carse was particularly effective with the new delivery, removing Will Jacks early when the opener attempted to work a delivery to the leg side but was beaten by late movement and spooned a catch to Benny Howell at cover. Jacks departed for 2 from 3 deliveries.
Jason Roy, playing on his 36th birthday, arrived to a rapturous reception but lasted only two deliveries before a sharp-edged fend off Carse was taken cleanly at slip by Mitchell Marsh. Roy was dismissed without scoring. Carse's opening burst of 2 for 8 from his first ten deliveries had MI London tottering at 8 for 2, with 136 still needed from 90 deliveries.
Vince and Curran Steady the Innings
James Vince and Sam Curran came together to rebuild. Progress was measured rather than explosive — the pair navigated tight spells from Carse and Matthew Potts, who conceded only one run from his opening five-delivery spell. Vince found boundaries through a short-arm pull and a pair of edges off Potts, while Curran accumulated steadily, showing his intent with a pulled six off Abrar Ahmed that cleared midwicket with authority.
Nathan Ellis, introduced midway through the chase, produced a sharp delivery to end Vince's stay — the ball nipping back in at pace to dislodge off stump. Vince departed for 17 from 18 deliveries, leaving MI at 51 for 3 after 44 deliveries and still needing 93 to win.
Pooran Changes the Match in an Instant
Pooran walked in and immediately shifted the dynamic. Against Benny Howell's spin, he struck three boundaries in quick succession — a swept four to fine leg, a straight six over long on, and another four flicked off his pads. Inside six deliveries, he had 14 runs and Sunrisers were visibly unsettled.
Dan Lawrence's off-spin was treated with equal contempt. Pooran launched a six that climbed high before landing just inside the boundary, then drove a four down the ground. When Abrar Ahmed returned, Pooran cleared the ropes twice in consecutive deliveries — first sweeping high over square leg, then driving over long on. By the time the 19th delivery of his innings arrived, Pooran had reached his half-century, described as the fastest fifty in the franchise's history across both the current MI London identity and the previous Oval Invincibles seasons.
Curran, meanwhile, was far from a passenger. He struck a full toss from Potts over wide long on for six to bring up his own half-century from 34 deliveries. The pair had added 50 from just 23 deliveries together by the midpoint of their stand and continued to press, combining for 21 runs in a single over from Abrar Ahmed. Ellis returned with a replacement delivery and tightened things briefly, but Pooran clipped a four off the final delivery of Ellis's spell to move to 54 from 20 deliveries.
The Final Push
With 11 needed from 20 deliveries, Potts bowled his final spell. Curran launched a full toss over wide long on for six, reducing the requirement to single figures. Pooran then settled the contest by driving the next meaningful delivery from Potts beyond mid off and beyond the fielder's reach, completing the win by seven wickets with 16 deliveries unused.
Pooran finished unbeaten on 58 from 22 deliveries, his knock including four fours and five sixes. Curran's 60 not out from 39 deliveries featured five fours and two sixes. Between them, the two left-handers added the majority of the 93 needed from 44 deliveries, producing a partnership that completely changed the complexion of the chase.
Carse was the standout with the delivery for Sunrisers, finishing with 2 for 18 from 20 deliveries, while Ellis took 1 for 22 from 20. Abrar Ahmed, Howell, Potts, and Lawrence were unable to take a wicket between them as MI London's lower-order partnership proved too strong on the night.
A crowd of 20,540 at the Kia Oval witnessed the result, with MI London's victory built on a difficult first phase and then an overwhelming second phase driven by two of the most destructive left-handed hitters in the format. Sunrisers, despite a promising start with the delivery, had no answers once the pair found their stride under the lights.
