Pooran's stunning half-century guides MI London past Sunrisers Leeds

MI London began the 2026 men’s Hundred with a commanding seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Leeds, driven by a blistering 19-ball half-century from Nicholas Pooran and an unbeaten 60 from Sam Curran.

According to BBC Sport’s monitored public feed, Pooran set the tone with a rapid surge that transformed the chase early, while Curran provided the finishing touch as MI London closed out the game comfortably in the opening match of the competition. The result left Sunrisers Leeds unable to recover after MI London’s batters seized control.

Pooran’s half-century came at remarkable speed and immediately put pressure on the Sunrisers bowling attack. His innings gave MI London the momentum they needed in the chase, with the batting side moving decisively toward the target. Curran then carried the innings through to the finish, staying unbeaten on 60 to ensure there was no late twist.

The seven-wicket margin reflected how thoroughly MI London dominated the contest once their chase got going. The opening match of the tournament offered an early reminder of the impact a fast start can have in the Hundred, where short, aggressive batting spells can quickly decide the direction of a game.

For Sunrisers Leeds, the match was a difficult opening to the new campaign. They were unable to contain Pooran’s explosive hitting, and despite the team’s efforts, MI London’s response proved too strong. With Curran anchoring the latter stages, the chase was completed without the need for drama.

The performance also underlined the value of experienced international players in the format. Pooran’s acceleration at the top of the batting effort and Curran’s unbeaten contribution at the end gave MI London the kind of balance and firepower that can shape a tournament run.

This report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to BBC Sports.

Source: BBC Sports - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/videos/cp8735e7p21o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss