The Hundred 2026 results: London Spirit knocked out after defeat by MI London
London Spirit became the first team to be eliminated from The Hundred after a four-wicket defeat by MI London in front of a record crowd at Lord's. The match delivered high drama as MI London mounted an unlikely successful chase to knock out the hosts with six balls to spare. The crowd figure of 27,721 established an all-time record attendance for a group stage match of The Hundred, providing a fitting backdrop for a match with significant tournament implications.
Spirit's Competitive Total
Tasked with setting a target, Spirit's innings began brightly. Opener Lhuan-Dre Pretorius entertained the record crowd with an impressive 52 off just 28 balls before the 20-year-old was sensationally caught by Will Jacks in a diving relay effort on the boundary. Despite the loss of their opener, Spirit continued to build through the middle order.
David Willey proved instrumental in the middle stages, whacking 31 off 18 deliveries. James Coles, who was the most expensive player at the auction earlier this year, remained unbeaten on 30 as Spirit posted 160-5. The total looked competitive at the halfway stage, offering Spirit hope of securing victory in front of their home crowd.
MI London's Improbable Chase
Chasing 161, MI London faced a substantial task requiring an unlikely 70 off 37 balls. Sam Curran began cautiously with one off seven balls before accelerating to finish with 33. His innings laid the platform alongside Nicholas Pooran, who contributed 39 runs. The partnership appeared to be progressing well until Pooran was brilliantly run out by David Willey, a moment that gave Spirit renewed hope of saving their tournament.
The turning point came with Sikandar Raza, who was making his first appearance of the campaign having replaced Rashid Khan. The Zimbabwe all-rounder's impact was immediate and emphatic. Raza produced a quickfire 32 off 16 deliveries, smacking four sixes during his aggressive display. Although Raza fell with just six needed to win, the momentum he generated proved decisive. Tom Curran and Ollie Pope held their nerve in the closing stages to complete the chase, securing victory with six balls remaining.
Season of Struggle
The defeat marked another disappointment in what has been a difficult campaign for Spirit. A lack of consistency has plagued the team throughout the competition, with just one win from six matches so far. This elimination represents a season to forget for head coach Andy Flower as Spirit's tournament comes to a premature end.
MI London's Progress
Meanwhile, MI London's victory provided significant momentum for their knockout aspirations. The win moved them up to second in the table, positioning them favourably as the competition progresses towards its latter stages. Their ability to chase down a substantial target in front of a record crowd demonstrated the quality and resilience within their squad.