Victory comes too late for MI London

MI London ended their Men’s Hundred 2026 league campaign with a two-run win over Birmingham Phoenix, but the result was not enough to secure a place in the Eliminator. They finished fourth, level on points with Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds, but an inferior net run-rate ended their qualification hopes.

Phoenix survive the early collapse

MI London posted 157 for 6 after being sent in, with Nicholas Pooran top-scoring with 36 and Jason Roy adding 26. James Vince struck regular boundaries before Tom Helm bowled him with a slower delivery at the end of the Powerplay. Ollie Sykes and Tom Curran then added an unbeaten 33-run stand from 16 balls to lift the total.

MI London needed to bowl Birmingham Phoenix out for 98 or fewer to overhaul Sunrisers Leeds on net run-rate. Their chances appeared strong when Sikandar Raza and Richard Gleeson reduced Phoenix to 23 for 3, but Joe Weatherley’s 42 and a 58-run partnership with Sean Dickson took Phoenix beyond the required mark.

Late drama delivers consolation win

After Phoenix crossed 98, the contest remained alive. Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Thompson attacked during the closing overs, cutting the equation to 13 from five balls. Rehan then hit a Trent Boult delivery over fine leg, followed by a wide that Nicholas Pooran could not gather cleanly.

With five needed from four balls, Boult responded with accurate yorkers to close out the match. Phoenix finished on 155 for 7, two runs short, but their survival beyond 98 had already confirmed MI London’s elimination. Phoenix ended the season with a seventh consecutive defeat and at the foot of the table.

Brief scores: MI London 157/6 beat Birmingham Phoenix 155/7 by two runs.