Jos Buttler made 68 off 42 while Andre Russell smashed 64* off 23 as Manchester Originals defeated Southern Brave by 68 runs at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on August 18.
Southern Brave’s title defence did not go as James Vince and Mahela Jayawardene would have wanted as they lost the fourth successive match in the 2022 edition. The loss against the Originals effectively puts Brave out of contention for a top-three spot.
Originals, on the other hand, remain in the race with the second straight win after having lost their first three games. Phil Salt and the captain got them off to a great start, adding 64 runs in 41 balls before Salt holed out to long-off for 22-ball 38.
Buttler struggled to get going in the first half of his innings but later showed his full range, hammering five sixes in his knock of 68 in 42 balls. He, along with Russell, smashed 51 runs in 22 balls for the third wicket. The Jamaican powerhouse was determined to leave his mark on the Hundred, and he did just that, blasting five sixes and six fours in his unbeaten 64 off just 23 as the Originals posted 188/3 on the board.
Vince got the home side off to a good start while chasing but with the scoreboard reading 36 in 16 balls, Sean Abbott grabbed an outstanding return catch to send Vince (20 off 9) back. Tristan Stubbs then removed Quinton de Kock (21 off 20) and Alex Davies. Tim David’s poor form continued as Russell had him caught at deep cover for a run-a-ball 10.
George Garton (14-ball 25) and Ross Whiteley (12-ball 21) did put up some fight, but it was never going to be enough as they were rolled over for 120. Paul Walter picked 3 for 20 for Originals, while Stubbs and Matt Parkinson grabbed two scalps each.
Earlier in the day, Southern Brave women held on to a 9-run victory in an intense finish. Smriti Mandhana top scored for them with 43 off 25, while Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley and Maia Bouchier made crucial contributions to propel the total to 136/5.
Originals were in a great position at a point, with 46 needed in 35 balls with eight wickets in hand before Brave put the squeeze on. Amanda-Jade Wellington snared 3 for 27 while Lauren Bell claimed 2 for 17 in her 20 balls. Emma Lamb played a terrific knock of 57 in 45 balls and fought single-handedly.
But once she was dismissed at the end of the 18th set, Bell and Tahlia McGrath had no difficulty defending 19 off 10. With this, Brave made it three wins out of three games and took the top spot.
