Manchester Originals Hold Off David Warner’s Fightback to Win by 10 Runs

The air was thick with anticipation at Old Trafford on the evening of August 11, 2025, as the Manchester Originals squared off against the London Spirit in a pulsating day-night clash in the Hundred Men’s Competition. The Originals, led by the dynamic Phil Salt won the toss and chose to bat, banking on their batting firepower to set a big total on a pitch that looked tailor-made for stroke-making. The London Spirit were ready to unleash their bowling arsenal, aiming to keep the home side in check and set up a chase under the lights.

Manchester Originals’ Innings: A Fiery Start and a Measured Middle

Phil Salt and the young, explosive Ben McKinney opened the batting for the Originals, and it was clear from the first ball that they meant business. McKinney, in particular, was in no mood to hang around. He launched into the Spirit’s bowlers with fearless aggression, smashing 29 runs off just 12 balls. His knock was a spectacle with two crisp fours sliced through the infield, and three massive sixes sailed into the stands, electrifying the home crowd. With a strike rate of 241.67, McKinney’s onslaught helped the Originals race to 47 runs in just 21 balls, putting the Spirit under immediate pressure. But cricket can be cruel, and his blazing innings ended when he skied one off Olly Stone, caught by Jamie Overton.

Sharp work from Kane Williamson 🤩#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/05FHkup6oZ

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 11, 2025

The crowd groaned, but the tone had been set. Salt, the captain, kept the momentum going, playing with a mix of caution and flair. His 31 off 20 balls included four boundaries and a towering six, showcasing his ability to find gaps and clear the ropes. He was joined by Jos Buttler, the wicketkeeper-batsman whose reputation for dismantling attacks precedes him. The duo added 38 runs for the second wicket, blending quick singles with well-timed shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. The powerplay was a triumph, yielding 57 runs in 25 balls for just one wicket lost, a dream start for any team in this format.

The Old Trafford faithful roared their approval as the Originals looked poised for a massive total. Salt’s departure came in the 44th ball, caught by Overton off Richard Gleeson, leaving the score at 85 for 2. Buttler then took charge, anchoring the innings with his trademark elegance. Heinrich Klaasen joined him, bringing his brand of power-hitting to the crease. Klaasen’s 24 off 17 balls, with three fours, complemented Buttler’s 46 off 37, which featured three fours and two sixes. Together, they pushed the score past 100 in 57 balls, a milestone that drew cheers from the stands.

Buttler’s knock was a masterclass in pacing, rotating the strike while punishing loose deliveries, especially against Gleeson. At the strategic timeout after 40 balls, the Originals were in a strong position at 80 for 1, with the crowd sensing a score well north of 160. The Spirit bowlers, however, had other ideas. They tightened their lines in the middle phase, clawing back control. Olly Stone struck again in the 82nd ball, removing Klaasen, who Kane Williamson caught. Four balls later, Mark Chapman, struggling to get going with 2 off 4 balls, fell to Jafer Chohan’s spin, caught by Williamson again. At 136 for 4 after 86 balls, the Originals needed a strong finish.

Lewis Gregory tried to provide it, smashing 10 off 5 balls with a six, but he was out in the 97th ball, caught by Ollie Pope off Overton. Buttler’s exit in the 93rd ball, caught by Overton off Gleeson, was a blow, as he seemed set for a bigger score. Scott Currie (6 not out off 3, with a four) and Noor Ahmad (1 not out off 2) saw out the innings. The Originals finished at 163 for 6, a run rate of 1.63 per ball. Extras added 14 runs, including 5 leg-byes and 9 wides, which allowed them to gain additional runs.

You have to see this🤯

Ben McKinney smashes FIVE boundaries in six balls 💥#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/cUCTi9NZW9

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 11, 2025

Stone led the bowling with 2 for 27 in 20 balls, matched by Overton’s 2 for 26. Chohan took 1 for 36, Gleeson 1 for 37, and Liam Dawson, though wicketless, was tidy with 32 runs in 20 balls. Milestones included 50 in 24 balls, 100 in 57, and 150 in 91. The innings had it all: McKinney’s early fireworks, Salt and Buttler’s steady hands, and a late Spirit fightback that kept the total from soaring too high. The Originals would have been looking to defend with 163, knowing their bowlers could defend it on this surface.

London Spirit’s Innings: Warner’s Heroics Fall Just Short

Chasing 164, the London Spirit opened with David Warner and captain Kane Williamson. A run rate of 1.64 per ball was within reach, but the Originals’ bowlers, led by Sonny Baker and Josh Tongue, were ready to make life difficult. The powerplay was cautious, with just 23 runs in 25 balls, no wickets down. Warner and Williamson built steadily, adding 75 for the first wicket by the 56th ball. Warner was the aggressor, reaching his fifty off 35 balls with nine fours and a six. By the strategic timeout at 50 balls, the Spirit were 73 for 0, Warner on 52, Williamson on 17, a solid platform.

The one Manchester Originals needed 💪

Josh Tongue dismisses David Warner 👀#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/YGPzualzG3

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 11, 2025

The breakthrough came when Williamson, with 19 off 20 (two fours), was caught by Mark Chapman off Tongue in the 56th ball. Jamie Smith added a quick 12 off 9, including a six, but fell lbw to Scott Currie in the 73rd ball, making it 101 for 2. The Spirit reached 50 in 36 balls and 100 in 72, keeping pace. Warner’s 71 off 51, with 12 fours and a six at 139.21 strike rate, was a masterclass, but his dismissal in the 86th ball, caught by Buttler off Tongue, shifted the momentum. Ashton Turner’s 13 off 7 (a four and a six) ended when he was caught by Gregory off Baker in the 91st.

Sean Dickson made 2 off 3 before Buttler caught him off Tongue in the 89th, and Jamie Overton’s explosive 19 off 7, with three fours and a six at 271.42, raised hopes, but a run-out in the 98th ball, involving Chapman and Buttler, ended his charge. Ollie Pope (2 not out off 2) and Liam Dawson (1 not out off 1) couldn’t close the gap. The Spirit finished at 153 for 6, 10 runs short, with a run rate of 1.53 per ball. Extras matched the Originals at 14 (5 leg-byes, 9 wides).

What. A. Game.

Manchester Originals get their first win of the summer in front of a home crowd 🏡#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/XRArOFEAPQ

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 11, 2025

They hit 150 in 98 balls. Tongue was the star with 3 for 29 in 20, dismissing Williamson, Warner, and Dickson. Baker, Player of the Match, took 1 for 21 in 20 at 1.05 economy. Currie had 1 for 26, while Gregory (0 for 32), Ahmad (0 for 28), and Farhan Ahmed (0 for 12) backed them up. The Originals’ discipline sealed a thrilling win, sending the crowd into raptures.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Jos Buttler’s 46 off 37 balls was the defining moment for the Manchester Originals. After McKinney’s explosive start, Buttler took control with a blend of caution and flair and allowed the team to come hard at their opponents.

🚨 The Hundred Men 🏏

Phil Salt and Been McKinney led the assault at the top for the Manchester Originals. They got support from Jos Buttler and Heinrich Klaasen to get to 163.

In reply, David Warner played a central role at the top but Kane Williamson struggled big time which… pic.twitter.com/y9nrfLlTax

— Sportify (@Sportify9095) August 11, 2025

His three fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 124.32, showed his mastery in pacing the innings and targeting Gleeson with precision. He built a 49-run stand with Klaasen, stabilizing the middle overs. Though out to Overton in the 93rd ball, his knock laid the foundation for 163 for 6, proving pivotal in the victory.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

David Warner was the TCNI Hero of the Day for the London Spirit, scoring a brilliant 71 off 51 balls. With 12 fours and a six at 139.21 strike rate, he anchored the chase of 164, dominating the powerplay and forming a 75-run stand with Williamson.

David Warner, still going strong! 💪

His last two outings in #TheHundred2025:

71 (51)
70* (45) pic.twitter.com/1fS6rXH6zr

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 12, 2025

Despite falling to Tongue, his composure against Baker and Ahmad kept the Spirit in contention, making his effort the standout in a valiant chase that fell agonizingly short in the match.