On a night that was full of boundaries at the Kia Oval, Manchester Originals ravaged their way to the greatest triumphant run-chase in the men’s Hundred, pushing past a gigantic score posted by Southern Brave having seven wickets as well as four balls to spare. Although he was not able to finish off the contest, Jos Buttler appeared to be his imperious best, scoring 82 runs off of only 46 balls. Jamie Overton’s high-over-long-off collision with Chris Jordan clinched the triumph.
Southern Brave was forced to bat first after losing the toss, and they did it successfully. They make history by being the first team to score three half-centuries in a single innings of 100 balls. Through an unbeaten 51 from 38, Devon Conway served as the innings’ anchor after Finn Allen drove the opening tempo with 69 from 38. James Vince followed up with a 24-ball fifty in the innings’ final stages. These three players were mostly responsible for the Southern Brave’s innings’ high score of 196.
Manchester Originals script history as they reach final
Originals reached 115 for 1 at the halfway point after racing to 100 in 41 balls, matching their previous record during the 2022 edition. After Buttler reached his half-century in 26 balls and the Originals skipper hit back-to-back boundaries against Tymal Mills, the Brave’s seamers continued to suffer as Jordan was dismissed for 17 in the following set. The competition’s top wicket-taker then terminated Holden’s cameo by bowling a slower delivery.
When Originals required 26 runs off 20 balls, Buttler maintained his methodical attack by smashing Rehan Ahmed for two additional sixes over a span of 10 consecutive deliveries from the young leg spinner. Manchester Originals then finished off the game and qualified for the final.
England’s white-ball skipper Buttler has been a strong supporter of the competition recently and increased his lead as the highest run scorer of the tournament. This is his first complete season of participation, and he will now captain his team against the Oval Invincibles at Lord’s on Sunday in an effort to clinch the title.
