Buttler makes sure that Superchargers are stuck in third place, with Trent Rockets in pole position to finish second.
Sir James Anderson’s return to the Manchester Originals lineup added excitement to the local rivalry at Headingley as the Northern Superchargers attempted to win eight straight games for both men and women at their northern stronghold. Unfortunately for Harry Brook’s team, it was not to be, even though they will still play in the Eliminator on Saturday at the Kia Oval.
The Superchargers were hoping for a large win to give themselves a reasonable chance of placing second in the group stages, as they began with the same number of points as the Trent Rockets but a huge gap in net run rate.
Anderson bowled the first ten after the Originals won the toss and decided to field. He quickly claimed his first and second wickets in The Hundred while grinning widely. After that, Brook was dropped in the deep, and Anderson was in stitches as England’s white-ball skipper attempted a falling-over scoop. The ball only dribbled a few feet from the bat, leaving Brook on his butt.
The Originals were in the box seat at 73 for 5 off 67 balls after Brook (20 off 20) was caught off Scott Currie and Zak Crawley (17 off 17) holed out.
Even though Samit Patel is only three years younger than Anderson, he is nevertheless considered an elder citizen in the world of professional cricket. He had hit four fours and three sixes in his 19-ball 42 before being removed off the last delivery. He and David Miller (30 off 22) had given the Superchargers something to defend in spite of Tom Aspinwall’s outstanding 3 for 17.
With Phil Salt (9 off 13) and Ben McKinney (6 off 8) struggling to break free, the Superchargers’ opening pair of Jacob Duffy and Matthew Potts were tidy. However, once they were out of the way, Jos Buttler and Rachin Ravindra (47* off 23) demonstrated why they are considered two of the world’s best white-ball hitters. Their exciting partnership of 99 off 48 ensured the Originals finished the competition on a high note and condemned the Superchargers to a third-place group finish, barring a devastating loss to the Rockets tomorrow at Trent Bridge.
Buttler was imperious, smiting seven fours and five sixes in his 37-ball 70 before being bowled by Adil Rashid, at which point only 10 were needed off 21 balls. Rashid conceded 39 from his 20, the most he has ever leaked in The Hundred, and successive boundaries from Ravindra sealed the deal with seven wickets and 16 balls to spare.
Buttler said: “The surface was a bit tricky, a bit slow. I thought we bowled exceptionally well apart from three or four balls and that allowed us to chase it down. We showed our best cricket in this last game when we were already out of the tournament, which is frustrating.
“Overall, over the course of the tournament, we left a lot out there. In a couple of games, we failed to get over the line and we are where we deserve to be in the end. Tonight we showed what we are truly capable of as a team.”