Sikandar Raza powers MI London to derby glory over London Spirit in thrilling Hundred clash

Sikandar Raza announced himself in spectacular fashion at Lord’s with a match-winning all-round performance that propelled MI London to a dramatic derby victory over London Spirit in The Hundred. Playing his first game for the franchise after arriving from international duty in Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwean all-rounder delivered a stunning cameo with the bat and a disciplined spell with the ball to help MI London chase down 160-5, securing local bragging rights and moving his side up to second place in the 2026 standings.

The contest, played in front of a record group-stage crowd of 27,721, was one of the most intense encounters of this year’s tournament. Tempers flared throughout the evening, spectacular catches and run-outs punctuated the action, and the match ended with players exchanging words as they left the field. For London Spirit, the defeat proved especially painful, as it officially ended their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.

Spirit needed victory but failed to seize momentum

Heading into the match, London Spirit knew that nothing less than a win would keep their tournament alive. After a heavy defeat to SunRisers Leeds earlier in the week, the home side made three changes in an attempt to revive their campaign. However, despite a composed half-century from South African batter Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Spirit never managed to build the sustained momentum required to post a truly imposing total.

MI London’s bowling attack, strengthened by the inclusion of Raza in place of Afghanistan star Rashid Khan, executed a disciplined plan that revolved around denying the shorter boundary and forcing Spirit’s batters to hit to the larger side of the ground. The strategy worked brilliantly, with Spirit’s innings progressing steadily rather than explosively.

Pretorius was the standout performer for the hosts, but his innings was ended by one of the most remarkable catches of the tournament. Will Jacks, positioned on the boundary rope, initially appeared to have overbalanced, tossed the ball into the air as he crossed the rope, and then dived back to complete a spectacular one-handed catch that left the Lord’s crowd in disbelief.

Although David Willey battled aggressively for 31 runs, the earlier dismissals of power-hitters Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis left Spirit struggling to generate the acceleration they desperately needed.

Late resistance lifts Spirit to 160-5

As MI London’s bowlers maintained control through the middle phase, Spirit looked destined to finish well below a competitive score. It was only the late counterattack from Jamie Overton and James Coles that changed the complexion of the innings.

Coles produced his most substantial contribution of the season, combining with Overton in a powerful late partnership that pushed Spirit to 160-5. The final overs brought a flurry of boundaries and sixes, allowing the hosts to finish with a total that appeared defendable on a pitch that had offered assistance to both bowlers and spinners.

For MI London, however, the target represented a significant challenge. They would need to complete the highest successful run chase in the men’s Hundred competition at Lord’s to secure victory.

Early blows in the chase

The chase began in explosive fashion when Will Jacks launched the very first ball he faced for six straight back over the bowler’s head. Yet the momentum shifted immediately afterward, as newly selected England Test squad member Matt Fisher dismissed his Surrey teammate with the next delivery.

Fisher’s breakthrough briefly energised the Lord’s crowd, and Mason Crane, drafted into the side in place of Adam Zampa, delivered an outstanding opening spell. The leg-spinner removed former MI captain James Vince with his very first ball and conceded only three runs from his opening ten deliveries, putting MI London under genuine pressure.

Despite those setbacks, Nicholas Pooran quickly found his rhythm in his first appearance at Lord’s, and captain Sam Curran began rebuilding the innings. Their partnership steadied the chase before another spectacular moment changed the narrative once again.

Willey’s brilliance and Raza’s arrival

In an increasingly heated contest, David Willey produced a sensational piece of fielding, releasing the ball in mid-air while diving to complete a stunning run-out that dismissed Pooran and gave Spirit renewed belief.

The wicket brought Sikandar Raza to the crease, and the Zimbabwean all-rounder wasted no time imposing himself on the match. His first, fourth and seventh deliveries all disappeared for six, immediately transforming the required equation and shifting the pressure back onto Spirit.

Raza and Curran added 41 runs in just 18 balls, combining calculated aggression with clever placement and relentless boundary-hitting. What had looked like a difficult chase suddenly became MI London’s game to lose.

After Curran departed for 33, followed by Sherfane Rutherford for a golden duck, Spirit sensed another opportunity. But Coles endured a costly over, conceding 18 runs from just five balls, including a colossal 105-metre six from Raza that nearly cleared the ground.

Although Raza eventually fell with ten balls remaining, the damage had already been done.

Pope finishes the job

With the target firmly within reach, Ollie Pope remained composed under pressure and calmly guided MI London across the line, sealing a memorable victory in one of the most dramatic matches of the 2026 Hundred season.

Raza finished with a breathtaking cameo that completely altered the momentum of the chase and justified MI London’s decision to bring him in as a temporary replacement for Rashid Khan.

Speaking after the match, the Zimbabwean admitted that the whirlwind nature of his recent schedule made the performance even more surreal.

“Four days ago I was in Sri Lanka and I’m not really sure what day or date it is, but it’s nice to be part of The Hundred and have a debut like that,” Raza said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better start. Really I just closed my eyes and swung as hard as I could.”

He also emphasised how quickly fortunes can change in the Hundred format.

“You need to remember the complexion of a game can completely change in 10 balls.”

A fiery London rivalry

The result was significant beyond the points table. This was a fiercely contested London derby, and the intensity was evident throughout the evening.

Players exchanged words on several occasions, and after the final ball, members of both teams were seen involved in animated discussions as they left the field. Tom Curran, who struck the winning runs for MI London, appeared to clash with several former England teammates in the aftermath of the match, adding another layer of intrigue to an already combustible encounter.

For MI London, the victory strengthened their position near the top of the standings and reinforced their credentials as genuine title contenders.

For London Spirit, however, the defeat was devastating. Eliminated from the competition with games still remaining, the hosts were left to reflect on a campaign that promised much but ultimately failed to deliver when it mattered most.

A defining night for Raza

Raza’s debut could hardly have been scripted more perfectly. Called into the side as a late replacement for one of the world’s premier T20 spinners, he contributed with both ball and bat, adapted instantly to unfamiliar conditions, and produced the decisive innings of the match.

His ability to seize control of the chase in such a short period highlighted why he remains one of the most respected all-rounders in franchise cricket. The combination of fearless power-hitting, tactical awareness and composure under pressure gave MI London exactly the spark they needed.

The victory also demonstrated the unpredictable beauty of The Hundred format, where a game can swing dramatically within a handful of deliveries and where individual brilliance can reshape an entire contest.

What comes next

The Hundred continues with another double-header as Birmingham Phoenix host SunRisers Leeds, with both the women’s and men’s fixtures scheduled to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

For MI London, the focus now turns to maintaining their momentum and challenging for a place in the final stages of the tournament.

For London Spirit, the remainder of the season will be about rebuilding pride and evaluating a campaign that ended sooner than expected.

But regardless of what happens next, this night at Lord’s will be remembered for one unforgettable debut. Sikandar Raza arrived from international duty uncertain of the date, and within a matter of hours, he had written his name into MI London folklore with a stunning cameo that delivered derby glory and kept his team’s title ambitions burning brightly.