Rachin Ravindra delivered one of the most dominant performances in The Hundred’s history, scoring the joint-fourth highest individual total in the men’s competition to lead Welsh Fire to a 15-run victory over MI London. The match, played before a record-breaking crowd at Cardiff, saw the Oval-based franchise fall short of their recent championship streak despite a stellar bowling display.
The Welsh Fire struggled early after MI London won the toss and elected to field. Following the dismissals of Phil Salt and Matthew Short, the hosts found themselves in a precarious position at 20 for 2 after just 22 deliveries.
However, Ravindra’s entry into the crease completely shifted the momentum. He reached his half-century in just 22 deliveries, highlighted by a powerful strike against Rashid Khan. Playing with exceptional aggression, Ravindra surpassed Jonny Bairstow’s previous Welsh Fire record for the highest men’s score, eventually falling for a magnificent 98 off 98 balls to a catch from Jason Roy off the bowling of Trent Boult (1 for 16).
During the innings, Joe Root provided steady support with 29 runs, while Jordan Cox added a quickfire 17* to bolster the total. Ravindra’s performance earned him the Meerkat Match Hero award.
In pursuit of the target, MI London appeared to be in control at 72 for 1 before Lockie Ferguson ignited a devastating comeback. Ferguson dismantled the visitors’ momentum with a crucial spell, taking 4 for 26, including the wickets of Jason Roy, Sam Curran, and Nicholas Pooran. The match hung in the balance until Ravindra claimed the vital wicket of James Vince (66 from 38) via a stunning caught-and-bowled.
Welsh Fire’s bowling unit remained disciplined during the final overs, with Ferguson cleaning up Tom Curran to secure the team’s second win of the season. Reflecting on the win, Ravindra praised his team’s performance against a highly regarded MI London side, noting the significance of securing a victory on their home turf.
