Pretorius Pounces On Curran’s Costly Absence

Pretorius’s heroics set up a 7 wicket victory for the London Spirit, their first of the campaign, as they cash in on Sam Curran’s absence.

While captains always play a vital role in short-format cricket, the absence of MI London’s Sam Curran was particularly pertinent. The home side arrived off a last-ball win over Southern Brave with their captain ruled out as a precaution with a muscle injury.

The blow left them light both with the bat and ball. Curran has been central to both victories, an unbeaten 60 in the chase against SunRisers Leeds and 30 against the Brave, backed by two wickets apiece in each game.

Opposition captain Liam Livingstone has also been the Spirit’s standout performer so far, a man-of-the-match 69 and 2-14 against Manchester Super Giants, backed up by 33 more against Trent Rockets. Yet Spirit had lost both games and sat bottom of the table; a third defeat would have left them in serious trouble.

Jacks and Vince start well 

Knowing a win would take them top of the table, Will Jacks and stand-in skipper James Vince gave MI London a very good start, reaching 52 without loss off 35 balls.

While Adam Milne and David Willey bowled nicely up top, the pair got stuck into Andrew Tye and, in particular, Adam Zampa, who struggled for length, one low full toss swept into the stands by Jacks. Having made 54 against the Brave two days ago, he’d reached 38 from 25 balls

With the partnership at 73 off 45 balls, Livingstone brought himself into the attack and should have had a wicket, but Jacks, having just passed fifty, was put down at long-off by David Willey moving to his right.

At the halfway mark, MI London had reached 82-0; Jacks, who’d had the majority of the strike, was on 53, Vince, off the back of a duck against the Brave, on 26.

Vince wouldn’t add to that score as Willey this time clung on; Coles had Spirit’s first wicket. The explosive Nicolas Pooran was moved up to three, came in with the score reading 91-1.

Having built the perfect platform, Jacks was then dismissed. On review, he’d got the thinnest of edges through to Jonny Bairstow. His knock of 65 saw him surpass Phil Salt as the highest run-scorer in Hundred history.

Overton Restricts MI London

Courtesy of a superb Jamie Overton spell (9 balls, 2 wickets for 6 runs), Spirit fought themselves back into the game, and with two new batters at the crease and the score reading 104-3 off 70 balls, they had a chance to restrict the home side.

Tom Curran could have been dismissed in the first over of the death when James Coles and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, converging from mid-wicket and square leg with eyes on the ball, collided attempting the catch. Fortunately, after a lengthy delay, both appeared to be okay.

On 139 off 90 balls and having stagnated somewhat, MI London needed an explosive finish. Sherfane Rutherford ensured they got that, dispatching the final set of Andrew Tye’s bowling for 16 before holing out at square leg for 41 from 19.

That cameo ensured MI London set a more than competitive score of 164.

Pretorius showed no ill effects from the collision, opening the batting alongside Bairstow. The pair got off to a flyer, reaching 27 without loss inside the first 10 balls, Pretorius giving Will Jacks some of his own medicine with two sixes down the ground to move to 34 from 14. Bairstow, not one to be overshadowed, was equally aggressive with 22 from 10, Spirit ending the powerplay in the ascendancy, requiring 104 from 75 balls.

Brilliance from Pretorious

The partnership was broken when Bairstow, attempting to go back over Olly Stone’s head, was caught by Jacks running in from the long-on boundary.

Pretorius, now joined by Livingstone, took a wayward Stone to task. His 62 off just 25 balls left Spirit needing 70 from 60, well on course for a much-needed victory.

Pretorius’s innings ended meekly, a simple catch to wicketkeeper Nicolas Pooran. With the game set up for Livingstone to continue his magnificent form, he slapped a short ball from Richard Gleeson straight to Rutherford, who took a good leaping catch at mid-wicket. Livingstone exchanged words with the opposition fielders as he walked off, underlining how much his dismissal could weigh on the outcome.

Dewald Brevis did his best to allay any worries his captain may have had, reaching 31 from 15 balls as Spirit closed in, needing 15 from 17.

Brevis was ably supported by James Rew, who finished the game off with a boundary, ending unbeaten on 19 from 13. Brevis finished on 37 from 18.

The Spirit have their first victory of the season at a crucial juncture. MI London will be hoping their captain can return as soon as possible.