Welsh Fire secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over Manchester Originals in the third match of The Hundred’s Men 2024 at Old Trafford.

The Originals, led by Phil Salt, experienced a batting collapse, with David Willey and Joshua Little leading the charge for the Welsh’s bowling attack. The Originals were restricted to a meager 86/8, and the Welsh’s batting lineup clinically chased the target in just 57 deliveries.

David Willey’s destructive spell

Winning the toss, Welsh elected to field, putting the Originals into bat. Willey immediately made an impact by dismissing Phil Salt with the second delivery of the match. Willey’s destructive spell continued as he quickly took two more wickets, leaving the Originals reeling at 4/3 within just 15 balls.

Joshua Little takes out Sikandar Raza with a beauty

With the Originals in deep trouble, Sikandar Raza joined Wayne Madsen in an attempt to stabilize the innings. However, Raza’s stay was cut short by Little.

On the second delivery of the sixth set, Little bowled a good-length delivery around the off stump that nipped back in, catching Raza off guard. Raza attempted a defensive shot but the ball hit the under edge of the bat and crashed into the stumps, sending Raza back to the pavilion. This left the Originals at a precarious 19/4 after 27 balls.

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Manchester Originals’ struggle and late-stage recovery 

The wickets kept falling, leaving the team at a precarious 35/6 by the halfway point. Early dismissals of key players like Salt and Laurie Evans added pressure to the batting lineup. The Originals’ batting lineup continued to falter with Usama Mir‘s dismissal on the 54th delivery, exacerbating their troubles.

Despite the grim situation, Jamie Overton and Scott Currie stepped up in the final stages. Overton’s aggressive play and Currie’s steady support forged a crucial 36-run partnership, adding vital runs to the scoreboard. Their resilience under pressure ensured the Originals reached a total of 86/8 after their 100 deliveries, providing a semblance of hope for their bowling unit.

Welsh Fire’s commanding chase

In response, Welsh’s openers, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Jonny Bairstow, got off to a flying start, quickly amassing 37 runs without loss after 20 deliveries. The Originals managed a breakthrough when Currie dismissed Kohler-Cadmore on the 21st delivery. Nevertheless, with only 39 runs needed from 75 deliveries, the Fire were in a commanding position.

Paul Walter then removed Bairstow on the 28th delivery, bringing captain Tom Abell to the crease. Abell, along with Joe Clarke, steadily guided the Fire closer to victory. The pair comfortably steered their team to an eight-wicket win, reaching the target with 43 balls to spare.

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