League: Cricket
In Match 2 of The Hundred Men’s 2024 competition at the Utilita Bowl, Southern Brave delivered a dominant performance, clinching a seven-wicket victory over London Spirit.
The Spirit’s innings faltered dramatically, with their batting lineup crumbling to 49/5 after 48 balls. Craig Overton emerged as the chief architect of their downfall, taking three key wickets and putting the Spirit on the back foot early.
Despite their struggles, the Spirit managed to recover somewhat thanks to spirited knocks from Dan Lawrence and Liam Dawson. Lawrence scored a resilient 38, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the ruins. Dawson played a crucial role towards the end of the innings, blasting an unbeaten 45 off just 19 balls. His aggressive batting propelled the Spirit to a respectable total of 138/9, though it was clear their innings had been far from ideal.
Chris Jordan also played a significant role in the Brave’s victory, making impactful contributions with ball. His four-over spell was marked by two important wickets, and he restricted the Spirit to just 26 runs.
A standout moment came with his dismissal of Olly Stone on the 96th ball of the Spirit’s innings. Jordan delivered a stunning 87 mph yorker – full, straight, and impeccably timed – cleaning up Stone’s stumps with precision. This dismissal was a testament to Jordan’s skill and the pressure he applied throughout his spell.
The Brave’s chase got off to a blistering start, with openers James Vince and Dan Hughes laying a solid foundation. Their partnership yielded 95 runs, setting the tone for a successful run chase. Vince led the charge with an authoritative 56, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings. Although he was dismissed by opposing captain Lawrence, his innings had already put the Brave in a commanding position, needing only 22 runs from the remaining 28 balls.
The Braves eventually completed their chase with 11 balls to spare, underlining their dominance. Leus du Plooy played a crucial role in the latter stages of the innings, remaining unbeaten on 23 and guiding his team to victory.