Manchester Originals Thrash Northern Superchargers by 57 Runs

On the evening of August 17, 2025, Old Trafford buzzed with excitement as the Manchester Originals put on a batting masterclass in the 17th match of The Hundred Men’s Competition. They piled up 171 for 3 in their 100 balls, driven by Jos Buttler’s masterful, unbeaten 64 off 45 balls, a performance that earned him the Player of the Match award. With fiery contributions from Heinrich Klaasen, Rachin Ravindra, and Phil Salt, the Originals set a towering target. The Northern Superchargers, tasked with chasing 172, buckled under pressure, crumbling to 114 all out in 87 balls, handing the Originals a thumping 57-run win.

Manchester Originals Innings

Captain Phil Salt, having won the toss, chose to bat first, a bold call on a pitch that promised runs. He wasted no time, blazing 9 runs off 5 balls with two cracking boundaries that sent the Old Trafford crowd into a frenzy. But his whirlwind knock ended early when Matthew Potts found the edge on the 11th ball, caught behind, leaving the score at 20 for 1. The Superchargers sensed a chance, but the Originals’ batting lineup was stacked with talent ready to take charge.

Ben McKinney strode in at number three, bringing a steady hand alongside Buttler. His 11 off 11 balls included a stylish four and a soaring six, showing his intent to keep the scoreboard moving. Mitchell Santner, however, outfoxed him with a skidding delivery, trapping him lbw on the 29th ball. At 40 for 2, the Originals needed to regroup, and Buttler rose to the occasion. His unbeaten 64 was a thing of beauty with five fours and four sixes, delivered at a strike rate of 142.22. He played with the calm of a seasoned pro, picking gaps and punishing anything loose, keeping the innings on a steady course.

The game’s complexion changed when Rachin Ravindra walked out. His 31 off 14 balls was a firecracker of an innings, packed with six boundaries that had the crowd roaring. Ravindra’s fearless approach, hammering shots all around the ground, powered the Originals past 100. Potts struck again on the 64th ball, dismissing him to snap a dangerous 62-run stand with Buttler, but the Originals’ momentum barely wavered. Buttler, cool as ever, kept the runs flowing, setting the stage for a late onslaught.

Heinrich Klaasen arrived at 102 for 3 and turned the heat up. His unbeaten 50 off 25 balls was a brutal display of power, with four fours and four massive sixes, boasting a strike rate of 200.00. He and Buttler forged an unbroken 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket, a stand that crushed the Superchargers’ hopes. Klaasen’s ability to find gaps and launch balls into the stands, especially in the final overs, kept the run rate at a blistering 1.71 per ball. The pair’s onslaught ensured the Originals ended with a bang, setting a target that felt monumental.

The Northern Superchargers’ bowlers struggled to keep up. Matthew Potts was their best, snagging 2 for 39 in his 20 balls, getting rid of Salt and Ravindra with sharp bowling. Mitchell Santner kept things tight, giving away 24 runs for one wicket in his 20 balls, but the rest of the attack took a beating. Dan Lawrence, Jacob Duffy, Adil Rashid, and Tom Lawes couldn’t find answers, with Duffy leaking 36 runs and Rashid 37 in their 20-ball spells. Six wides didn’t help the Superchargers’ cause, adding to the final total of 171 for 3.

Wickets fell at 20, 40, and 102, but each time, Buttler and his partners wrested back control. Batting first was a masterstroke, exploiting a pitch that favoured strokeplay. With Matty Hurst, Lewis Gregory, Scott Currie, Noor Ahmad, Josh Tongue, and Sonny Baker waiting in the dugout, the Originals had firepower to spare, though their top order’s dominance meant the lower order stayed on the bench. This towering total set the stage for their bowlers to go to work.

Northern Superchargers Innings

Chasing 172 in 100 balls was always going to be tough, and the Northern Superchargers fell apart against a ruthless Manchester Originals bowling attack. They limped to 114 all out in 87 balls, a 57-run defeat that laid bare their batting struggles. The required run rate of 1.72 per ball demanded boldness, but early wickets and a failure to build partnerships left them chasing shadows.

Zak Crawley came out swinging, blasting 16 off 9 balls with two fours and a six, giving the Superchargers a flicker of hope. But Josh Tongue stopped him in his tracks on the 10th ball, drawing an edge caught by Matty Hurst. Michael Pepper, the wicketkeeper, had a forgettable outing, bagging a four-ball duck to Tongue, leaving the score at 28 for 2 after 18 balls. Harry Brook, the Superchargers’ captain, showed fight with 11 off 9 balls, including two boundaries, but Rachin Ravindra got him, caught by Hurst, as the score slumped to 41 for 3.

Dan Lawrence’s stay was brief, falling for 1, lbw to Noor Ahmad, with a review failing to save him, leaving the Superchargers at 42 for 4. Dawid Malan tried to steady the ship with 19 off 14 balls, hitting three fours, but Sonny Baker bowled him, bringing the score to 63 for 5. David Miller gave the chase some life, top-scoring with 38 off 22 balls, including three fours and two sixes. His aggressive knock raised faint hopes, but Tongue struck again, bowling him on the 68th ball, leaving the Superchargers at 93 for 6.

The tail offered little resistance. Mitchell Santner scratched out 12 off 13 balls, including a six, but was caught off Ravindra’s bowling. Tom Lawes and Matthew Potts fell cheaply, with Potts out for 1 to Noor Ahmad and Lawes caught for 4 off Baker. Jacob Duffy’s golden duck, bowled by Baker, wrapped things up. Adil Rashid was left stranded on 5 not out, as extras, 1 leg bye, 2 no-balls, and 4 wides added just 7 runs to a sorry total.

The Originals’ bowlers were relentless. Sonny Baker and Josh Tongue were the stars, each taking 3 for 21. Baker’s 17 balls were stingy, while Tongue’s 20 included the scalps of Crawley, Pepper, and Miller. Noor Ahmad spun a web, taking 2 for 17 in 20 balls, and Ravindra chipped in with 2 for 13 in 10. Lewis Gregory and Scott Currie went wicketless, giving away 19 and 22 runs, respectively. The Superchargers managed a measly run rate of 1.31 per ball, unable to handle the Originals’ varied attack.

The match flow told a poor story for the Superchargers. They scraped 38 runs in the powerplay (balls 1-25) for two wickets, hit 50 in 37 balls, and 100 in 73, but the climbing run rate and constant wickets killed their chances. The Originals’ fielding, with Hurst and Buttler leading the way, was razor-sharp, with catches that sealed the deal. This crushing win earned the Originals 4 points, boosting their tournament standing.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive 50 not out off 25 balls was the heartbeat of the match, earning TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. Walking in at 102 for 3 after 64 balls, Klaasen lit up Old Trafford with four fours and four monstrous sixes, racing along at a strike rate of 200.00.

Heinrich Klaasen, everybody! 🫡#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/UhA8Dpaa1v

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 17, 2025

His unbroken 69-run stand with Jos Buttler (64 not out) powered the Originals to a daunting 171 for 3. Klaasen’s fearless approach, picking apart bowlers like Mitchell Santner and Adil Rashid with surgical precision, was a game-changer. He smashed balls to all corners, finding gaps and clearing the ropes with ease, especially in the final overs.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Josh Tongue was TCNI’s Hero of the Day, delivering a bowling masterclass that tore through the Northern Superchargers. His 20 balls cost just 21 runs at a miserly 1.05 runs per ball, with 10 dot balls choking the opposition’s flow. Tongue struck early, dismissing Zak Crawley (16) and Michael Pepper (0), rocking the top order.

His defining blow came when he bowled David Miller (38), shattering a budding fightback. With three wickets, backed by Sonny Baker and Noor Ahmad, Tongue ensured the Superchargers were bundled out for 114 in 87 balls. His pace, pinpoint accuracy, and coolness under pressure were pivotal in securing the Originals’ 57-run rout, making him the standout performer in a commanding team effort.