Manchester Originals 92 (Overton 37, Johnson 3-1, Narine 3-12) were defeated by Oval Invincibles 186 for 5 (Klaasen 60, Roy 59) by 94 runs.
As the Oval Invincibles beat the Manchester Originals by a record margin of 94 runs in the Hundred, Heinrich Klaasen’s aggressive half-century served as the catalyst.
The South African international smashed 60 from 27 balls with six sixes, sharing a 91-run second-wicket stand with Jason Roy (59 from 42), as the hosts amassed 186 for 5. Jamie Overton was the standout guest bowler with 2 for 21, leading the visitors’ assault.
With debutant Spencer Johnson providing the most economical figures in the Hundred history—3 for 1 from a whole 20 balls—Originals capitulated in response, and Sunil Narine took 3 for 12. As they were bowled out for 92, only Overton provided any resistance with a late 37 off 21 balls.
The Invincibles’ Roy and Will Jacks’ opening fireworks on the pitch eclipsed The Hundred’s regular opening fires.
The latter got things going with an electrifying six over cover before unleashing another powerful strike that sent 52 from the powerplay flying into the air. When he left for 32 off 13, the Originals felt relieved, but they had anticipated life without Klaasen.
enormous early six off To the relief of those living along Clayton Road, Paul Walter gave the alert when a second almost missed clearing the ground. These two sixes were among the five that helped Klaasen reach 50 in 23 balls. The fun was over when Josh Little added a sixth.
At that point, the Invincibles were in danger of surpassing the Originals’ 208 for 5 Hundred score from the previous season, but they faded away towards the conclusion.
In contrast to Klaasen, Roy was sluggish but nonetheless peppered the ropes in his own accomplished half-century from 34 balls after being thrown out lbw on 23. He was one of Overton’s two victims in his last set, though, as the hosts reached 186.
In the chase, Jos Buttler quickly produced his signature scoop for six, but in his competition debut, Johnson increased the pressure with 10 balls for one run. Because of the strain, Phil Salt skied a ball from Gus Atkinson to Nathan Sowter in the deep, taking nine balls to get off the mark.
A pitiful 19 came from the powerplay, and even though Buttler just avoided being called for a run out, the rate kept rising. Max Holden and Laurie Evans were both defeated by Narine’s deft spin in the same set; the latter made a duck for the second time in a row as a result of a good catch by man of the moment Klaasen.
By this point, Buttler was also experiencing batting woes; he was scoring just one run per delivery when he was grounded out by Nathan Sowter at deep mid-on, thus ending Originals’ prospects. Only Overton’s late strokes prevented an even greater humiliation for Originals after Walter followed two balls later.
