MI London 144 for 3 (Curran 60, Pooran 58) beat Sunrisers Leeds 143 (Gleeson 4-25) by seven wickets
Sam Curran displayed composure with an unbeaten 60 from 39 balls, while Nicholas Pooran (58* from 22) delivered a stunning performance, racing to a 19-ball fifty—the fastest in the history of the Oval-based franchise.
Defending a modest total of 143, the Sunrisers started strongly. Brydon Carse bowled at over 90mph in a fiery opening spell, dismissing Will Jacks and removing birthday boy Jason Roy to leave MI London struggling at 4 for 2.
Things looked even more challenging when James Vince was clean bowled by Nathan Ellis, whose middle-stump-blasting inducker left the score at 51 for 3 after 44 balls, making the Sunrisers slight favorites.
However, that wicket brought Pooran to the crease, and the Trinidadian left-hander was in exceptional form, smashing two fours and a six in just three balls off Benny Howell. Partnering with Curran, who struck five fours and three sixes, Pooran secured an opening-night defeat for the franchise he previously represented in 2024 under their former identity as Northern Superchargers.
Earlier in the evening, the Sunrisers’ opening duo of Ryan Rickelton and Mitch Marsh got off to a brisk start after MI London won the toss and chose to field. Rickelton launched three sixes in five deliveries and followed up by cutting Richard Gleeson for four before being dismissed lbw by Sam Curran shortly afterward.
Richard Gleeson removed Benny Howell first-ball•ECB via Getty Images
Harry Brook showcased his batting flair, hitting Rashid Khan for a straight six, but the England white-ball captain fell to the Afghanistan leg-spinner’s next delivery, caught on the fence by Nathan Sowter as he chased another boundary.
Marsh continued to motor, launching three sixes during his 27-ball 41, but when he mistimed a Tom Curran delivery to brother Sam at cover, the Sunrisers’ innings began to unravel.
Gleeson dominated the middle order, dismissing Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, and Howell in quick succession. A spirited cameo from Tom Alsop (31 from 18) helped them reach 143. The outstanding Gleeson sealed the innings just short of the 100-mark, removing Ellis to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 25.
Pooran, named Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on his partnership with Curran: “Sam was set, and we just tried to stay positive. It was about hitting a few boundaries and taking that partnership all the way through to the end.”
Speaking about having his wife and daughter in attendance, he added: “It was wonderful to have them here, to score a fifty and blow them a kiss. I know they’ll be thrilled. This year has been personally challenging for me in terms of batting, so I’m just really grateful for the chance to keep doing what I love.”