No Win After Two For Manchester Originals
Author: Tom Penn
Updated At:
After a huge investment was confirmed only days before the 2025 Men's Hundred, optimism was high at Old Trafford ahead this latest campaign for Manchester Originals.
But that money can not do anything about this year's season and the Originals went down very narrowly in their opener at home against Southern Brave before being well and truly trounced in South London by Oval Invincibles on Saturday.
It could be a case of 'the least worst wins' when Manchester Originals host London Spirit on Monday evening as both have lost their last four fixtures!
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Southern Strife In The Opening Two Fixtures
After welcoming Southern Brave to Old Trafford on Wednesday, Manchester Originals were in the contest at the halfway stage thanks to captain Phil Salt's 60 runs from 41 balls at the top of the order took the team to 131/4.
And even though the bowling attack picked up nine wickets of their own in the field, Southern Brave reached 133 with one ball remaining.
| Bowler | Balls | Dots | Runs | Wickets |
| Sonny Baker | 20 | 11 | 26 | 2 |
| Lewis Gregory | 14 | 7 | 10 | 1 |
| Noor Ahmad | 20 | 11 | 21 | 2 |
| Scott Currie | 20 | 7 | 28 | 4 |
There was disappointment but some reasons for optimism ahead of the trip to The Oval.
Oval Invincibles Just Too Strong
Once again, Phil Salt showed the way for his side at the top of the order (41 runs from 32 balls) but his fellow opener Matty Hurst and Jos Buttler both made ducks!
The total of 128 never looked like being competitive and so it proved with only Lewis Gregory taking a wicket as the Invincibles reached 129 only one wicket down and with a remarkable 43 balls remaining.
Confidence will be low ahead of Monday's game with London Spirit but the Originals may well be up against a team with even less self-belief!
There is plenty of talent in the team, but getting that first victory seems to be the toughest challenge right now.
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