Fire's flying start as Originals set unwanted record
Bairstow stars with a 'brilliant' six and a stumping - The Hundred's plays of the day
- Published
Manchester Originals posted the lowest score by a team batting first in the history of The Hundred men's competition as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat by Welsh Fire at Old Trafford.
The Originals were without their captain and England white-ball skipper Jos Buttler, who has undergone a scan on an injured calf. He remains in the Originals' squad and has not yet been ruled out of the tournament.
Without Buttler for their opening match, the Originals' top-order batters could not get going and a final total of 86-8 was the sorry outcome.
David Willey took the wicket of England international Phil Salt in the first over and then removed Max Holden and Paul Walter with successive deliveries in his second set of five, leaving the hosts 4-3 after 15 balls.
After 54 balls, the Originals were at 37-7, but runs lower in the order from Jamie Overton (23) and Scott Currie (26 not out) improved matters, albeit not sufficiently.
In response, Welsh Fire posted a 37-run opening partnership between Jonny Bairstow (18) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18), who were dismissed in quick succession as the Fire were reduced to 49-2.
The Fire crossed the line with no further damage and 43 deliveries to spare as Joe Clarke scored 33 not out from 24 balls and captain Tom Abell (11no) hit the winning single.
- Published25 July
- Published25 July
What else do you need to know?
David Willey (centre) returned figures of 3-14 from his 20 balls to help Welsh Fire record an eight-wicket victory over Manchester Originals at Old Trafford
The Fire's victory was the quickest successful run chase in terms of balls faced in The Hundred men's competition. They chased down 87 in 57 balls, two quicker than the previous record of 59 balls set by Southern Brave against the Fire in 2023.
The 86-8 posted by the Originals is the lowest total by a men's side batting first in the history of The Hundred. The previous lowest was 87 all out. That had happened twice, with the Birmingham Phoenix (against the Originals in 2021) and the Fire (against Southern Brave in 2023) both recording 87.
The first 35 balls from the Fire were all bowled by left-handed bowlers. At that stage, the Originals were 23-4.
Willey's bowling figures of 3-14 are his best in The Hundred.
Of the Originals' top five batters, Sikandar Raza (13) was the only one to reach double figures with the bat.
'I love this competition' - what they said
Willey takes back-to-back wickets
Welsh Fire bowler David Willey: "It was nice to be out there and I love this competition. To get early wickets was important tonight.
"We made good progression last year. Unfortunately we just missed out on the knockouts so hopefully we will go a little bit further this year."
Manchester Originals captain Phil Salt: "[The] game never started for us, did it? Being brutally honest. They bowled well with the new ball and seamers held their length all the way through and just too good for us on the day.
"We're a long way off our best and we know we've got a bit of work to do in the next few days before the next game but I feel we've got a good enough squad to do that."
Welsh Fire wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow: "To start the comp in that kind of fashion is really encouraging. We've got a great group of lads and to win by that margin, it kind of sets you up for the rest of the comp because your run rate is really good.
"If we can maintain the standards that the bowlers set at the top of the order of their innings, I think it will be a great comp."
What is happening on Friday?
There will be another double-header on Friday, this time at Headingley as Northern Superchargers host Trent Rockets (women's at 15:00 BST and men's at 18:30).
England Test captain Ben Stokes is set to make his first appearance for the Superchargers since 2021.
You can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
