The Hundred: Manchester Originals secure first victory

Manchester Originals claimed their first triumph of The Hundred Men’s Competition 2025, edging out London Spirit by 10 runs in a riveting contest at Emirates Old Trafford.

Batting first, the Originals posted a commanding total of 163 for 6 — the joint-highest score of the season. England white-ball captain Jos Buttler anchored the innings with a keen 46 off 37 balls, supported by lively knocks from Phil Salt (31 off 20), Ben McKinney (29 off 12), and Heinrich Klaasen (24 off 17).

In reply, London Spirit fought back with a spirited 71 off 51 balls from Australian marquee David Warner, who forged a 75-run opening stand with Kane Williamson (19). However, their chase faltered under pressure from the Originals’ bowling attack. Josh Tongue delivered a decisive performance with 3 wickets for 29 runs, while Sonny Baker earned Player of the Match honors for his tight 1 for 21 in 20 balls.

The Originals’ all-round showing caught the spotlight, combining fluency with the bat and clinical bowling to derail London Spirit’s campaign.

Birmingham Phoenix will meanwhile take on Oval Invincibles on Tuesday night. This match is set to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with the men’s match scheduled for 9pm Kabul time.

Phoenix, who will be looking to build momentum when they host defending champions Oval Invincibles, are bolstered by the in-form batting of Will Smeed and Moeen Ali’s all-round leadership, will aim to exploit home conditions and climb the table.

Oval Invincibles, led by Sam Billings, boast a powerful top order featuring Jason Roy and Heinrich Klaasen, alongside the reliable spin of Sunil Narine and Afghan hero Rashid Khan. Their experience in high-pressure matches makes them a dangerous opponent, but they will need to overcome Phoenix’s strong record at Edgbaston.

With both sides eyeing crucial mid-season points, fans can expect an aggressive contest under the lights, where power hitting and tight death bowling could decide the outcome.
Fans in Afghanistan can meanwhile tune in to Ariana Television at 9pm tonight (Tuesday, August 12) to watch the match live.