Donovan Ferreira produced a rather unusual dance celebration that closely mirrored a move previously associated with Sam Curran in The Hundred. The moment carried an amusing twist, considering Curran was the one at the receiving end of the celebration this time.
Coming to the game, MI London ended their Men's Hundred 2026 league campaign with a narrow two-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston. However, the result did little to change their fate, as they finished fourth and failed to secure a place in the playoffs. Although MI London matched Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds on points, their inferior net run rate ultimately cost them a spot in the Eliminator.
The qualification equation was straightforward but demanding. After
setting Birmingham Phoenix a target of 158, MI London needed to dismiss their opponents for 98 or fewer to overtake Sunrisers Leeds on net run rate. Their chances looked promising early on when Phoenix slipped to 23/3. Sikandar Raza accounted for Joe Clarke before Richard Gleeson struck twice in succession, ending Mitchell Owen's aggressive innings and then trapping Laurie Evans down the leg side.
Joe Weatherley, however, revived Phoenix's chase. His 42 from 31 balls formed the backbone of a 58-run partnership with Sean Dickson. Weatherley initially controlled the scoring before Dickson began matching his partner's tempo, with the pair's steady flow of boundaries putting MI London's qualification hopes out of reach.
Sam Curran eventually dismissed Dickson, but MI London were unable to capitalise. On the very next delivery, Donovan Ferreira was dropped by Tom Curran's brother, Tom, giving Phoenix another lifeline.
The wickets of Ferreira and Weatherley soon followed, but Jordan Thompson was also handed a reprieve when Will Jacks spilled a straightforward chance at long-off. Phoenix required 32 from the final 12 deliveries, before Rehan Ahmed and Thompson brought the equation down to 13 from five.
Rehan then scooped a Trent Boult delivery over fine leg, followed by a wide that Nicholas Pooran was unable to collect cleanly. With five runs needed from four balls, Phoenix appeared to have the advantage. Boult, though, responded with a superb sequence of yorkers, denying the hosts the finishing touch and giving MI London a consolation victory.
Earlier, MI London had made an aggressive start after being asked to bat. Will Jacks fell for 11, but James Vince continued to find the boundary regularly, while Nicholas Pooran immediately put Tom Helm under pressure by striking him for a four and a six.
Helm got his revenge on the final delivery of the Powerplay, bowling Vince with a well-disguised slower ball. MI London reached 48 in the opening five overs but lost further momentum when Sam Curran was dismissed for a duck shortly afterwards.
The visitors were only 67 halfway through their innings, yet Pooran continued to keep the scoreboard moving. His innings ended on 36 when he picked out the long-on fielder, but he still emerged as MI London's leading run-scorer.
WATCH: SAM CURRAN x DONOVAN FERREIRA
Jason Roy initially struggled for fluency before accelerating, eventually making 26. Sikandar Raza added a useful 17, while Ollie Sykes and Tom Curran provided the late impetus MI London needed. Their unbeaten 33-run partnership from just 16 deliveries helped push the visitors to 157, with Helm taking considerable punishment during the closing stages.
The final total proved sufficient for victory but not enough to keep MI London's playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, Birmingham Phoenix endured a miserable end to their campaign, suffering their seventh straight defeat and finishing last in the standings.
