MI London vs London Spirit delivered another entertaining contest in Match 23 of The Hundred 2026, as MI London Men secured a composed four-wicket victory at Lord’s. Chasing 161, MI London reached the target with six balls to spare on Thursday, 6 August, registering back-to-back wins and keeping their knockout hopes firmly alive. London Spirit had laid a strong platform through a blistering innings from Lhuan-dré Pretorius, but MI London’s disciplined bowling in the middle overs shifted the momentum before their batters completed a controlled run chase.
Match Summary
MI London Men beat London Spirit Men by 4 wickets in Match 23 of The Hundred at Lord’s. Chasing 161, MI London reached 164/6 in 94 balls, riding an explosive Lhuan-dré Pretorius fifty for Spirit before their own bowlers pegged the total back. The chase was built on early intent and calm partnerships through the middle, with MI London crossing 100 in 66 balls before closing out the win with six balls unused. It was MI London’s second straight victory, giving them valuable momentum heading into the closing stages of the competition.
Match Highlights
London Spirit, batting first, were given a flying start by Lhuan-dré Pretorius, who struck 52 off just 27 balls with five fours and three sixes. Spirit raced to 50 in 31 balls before Pretorius fell at 79/3, triggering a period of control from the MI London attack.
At the strategic timeout, Spirit were 96/3 after 60 balls, with David Willey and Dewald Brevis working to rebuild the innings. A late push helped the hosts cross 150 in 98 balls, and they eventually finished on 160/5.
In reply, MI London matched Spirit’s intent early, scoring 44 off the first 25 balls and reaching 50 in 35 deliveries. They crossed 100 in 66 balls, and despite losing wickets at regular intervals in the second half of the innings, kept finding partnerships to stay ahead of the required rate. MI London reached 150 in 88 balls and sealed the chase at 164/6 with six balls remaining.
Turning Point
Pretorius’ dismissal at 79/3 in the 9.4th over was the key moment of the innings. MI London’s bowlers used the momentum shift to slow Spirit’s scoring through the middle overs, restricting what looked like a total heading past 180 down to a more chaseable 160.
Key Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Lhuan-dré Pretorius | London Spirit | 52 off 27 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) |
| David Willey | London Spirit | Involved in rebuilding partnership after the middle-overs slump |
| Dewald Brevis | London Spirit | Anchored the innings alongside Willey after the strategic timeout |
| Nicholas Pooran | MI London | Key contributor in the chase, dismissed at 91/3 |
| Sam Curran | MI London | Played a part in the middle-overs push before falling at 132/4 |
| Sikandar Raza | MI London | Fell late at 155/6 as MI London closed in on the target |
Captain’s Reaction
Official post-match quotes were not available at the time of writing. This section will be updated with reaction from the MI London and London Spirit camps once statements are released.
Records Broken
No individual tournament or career records were confirmed as broken in this match. Pretorius’ 27-ball fifty stands out as the standout individual milestone of the contest.
Key Statistics
| Category | Detail |
| Highest Scorer | Lhuan-dré Pretorius – 52 off 27 balls |
| Winning Margin | 4 wickets, with 6 balls remaining |
| London Spirit Total | 160/5 in 100 balls |
| MI London Total | 164/6 in 94 balls |
| Spirit’s 50 | Reached in 31 balls |
| MI London’s 50 | Reached in 35 balls |
| MI London’s 100 | Reached in 66 balls |
Records and Milestones
- Pretorius’ 52 from 27 balls was the fastest individual half-century of the match.
- MI London registered their second consecutive win, their best winning run of the current campaign so far.
Expert Analysis
MI London’s win was built less on individual fireworks and more on control — a bowling unit that absorbed an early onslaught and a batting line-up that paced its chase sensibly rather than panicking after early wickets. That balance is exactly what teams need in the closing stages of a Hundred campaign, when net run rate and consistency start to matter as much as raw power.
For London Spirit, the concern will be conversion. Pretorius’ start was as good as any team could hope for, yet the middle overs stalled badly enough that 160 felt short of what looked possible at the halfway mark. If Spirit are to stay in the qualification picture, finding ways to sustain powerplay momentum into the middle overs will be essential.
MI London, meanwhile, look to be finding their rhythm at the right time. Back-to-back wins built on all-round contributions rather than one match-winning innings suggest a squad settling into form ahead of a congested run of fixtures.
Why This Matters
- MI London’s win keeps their knockout qualification hopes firmly alive.
- Back-to-back victories give MI London momentum heading into their next fixtures.
- London Spirit’s stalled middle overs cost them a potentially bigger total.
- Pretorius’ form remains a genuine threat that opposition bowlers will need a plan for.
- A composed chase under pressure is a good sign for MI London’s batting depth.
- The result tightens the race for places in The Hundred’s knockout stages.
What’s Next
MI London will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming fixtures as they push for a top finish in the group stage. London Spirit will need a quick response in their next outing to keep their own qualification hopes on track. Full fixture details for both sides will be updated as the tournament schedule progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the MI London vs London Spirit match? MI London Men won by 4 wickets, chasing down London Spirit’s total of 160/5.
What target did MI London chase? MI London chased a target of 161 runs and reached 164/6 in 94 balls.
Who scored the most runs in the match? Lhuan-dré Pretorius top-scored with 52 off 27 balls for London Spirit.
Where was the match played? The match was played at Lord’s in London.
How many balls were left when MI London won? MI London completed the chase with six balls remaining.
Was this MI London’s first win of the campaign? No, this was MI London’s second consecutive win, giving them back-to-back victories.
What does this result mean for London Spirit? The loss puts more pressure on London Spirit to win their remaining matches to stay in the qualification race.
When does MI London play next? MI London’s next fixture will be updated once The Hundred’s schedule is confirmed for their following match.
MI London’s four-wicket win over London Spirit at Lord’s was a story of composure over chaos — a middle-overs fightback with the ball followed by a calm, calculated run chase. Lhuan-dré Pretorius gave the match its early spark, but it was MI London’s all-round discipline that decided the outcome. With back-to-back wins now behind them, MI London head into their next fixtures with real momentum, while London Spirit will be looking to bounce back quickly to keep their own campaign alive. Stay tuned for full coverage of the next round of Hundred fixtures.
