Lhuan-dre Pretorius delivered a stunning innings that helped London Spirit overcome MI London in a competitive London derby. The South African batter smashed 64 runs from just 28 balls, setting the tone for a powerful chase that saw Spirit reach their target of 165 with seven wickets in hand. MI London had posted a solid total of 164 for five in 100 balls, with Will Jacks scoring an impressive 65 off 44 balls.
The home side’s innings began slowly, with Jacks and James Vince struggling against early deliveries from David Willey and Adam Milne. They gradually built momentum, especially after the powerplay, as Jacks moved to his half-century and the team reached 82 for no loss. However, the momentum shifted when Jamie Overton struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Jacks and Nicholas Pooran. Jacks’ innings of 65 made him the highest run-scorer in The Hundred men’s history at that point.
Sherfane Rutherford added some late power to MI London’s total, hitting a crucial 41 off 19 balls before falling short of a century. Spirit’s chase started with a strong powerplay, as Pretorius and Jonny Bairstow brought up the team’s first fifty in just 18 balls. Bairstow departed early, but Pretorius continued his aggressive approach, hitting seven sixes in his innings. His 64 from 28 balls put Spirit well on course to win, with the team needing just 70 runs from 60 balls after reaching 101.
Pretorius was eventually dismissed by Richard Gleeson, but Dewald Brevis and James Rew saw the team home with 11 balls to spare. The victory marked London Spirit’s first win of the season and moved them up in the standings, while MI London remained in fourth place.
Sam Curran was absent from MI London’s lineup due to a precautionary muscle injury. His absence was felt both in batting and bowling, as MI London struggled to maintain their early momentum.
The match also saw a collision during the fielding, when James Coles and Lhuan-dre Pretorius nearly caused a delay in play. Despite the incident, both players were able to continue without further injury.
Pretorius’s performance was praised by his teammates and fans alike, with the young South African showing great composure under pressure. He credited his batting coach for helping him refine a key shot that proved crucial in the match.
The win was a turning point for Spirit, who had been sitting at the bottom of the table before this match. MI London will hope their captain Sam Curran can return soon to help stabilize the team’s form.
The match was a showcase of explosive batting and strategic play, with both teams offering fans an exciting contest.