In an electrifying match at Emirates Old Trafford in The Hundred, Manchester Originals emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, defeating Trent Rockets by just one run. The key moment of the match came in the final overs when Kathryn Bryce dismissed the dangerous Ash Gardner, swinging the momentum back in favor of the home side.
The game started with Manchester Originals posting a total of 137 for 6, with contributions from Eve Jones, Beth Mooney, and Kathryn Bryce herself. Captain Sophie Ecclestone also chipped in with a quickfire cameo towards the end of the innings. The home side would have been satisfied with their total on a slow pitch.
Trent Rockets began their chase confidently, with Lauren Filer picking up early wickets to put the Originals ahead in the match. However, a record partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ash Gardner seemed to have steered the Rockets towards victory. Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 56 and Gardner’s 36 set the stage for a thrilling finish.
With just three balls left, Bryce’s crucial wicket of Gardner turned the tide once again. Sciver-Brunt needed a boundary off the final delivery to win the match, but could only manage two runs, falling agonizingly short of the target.
After the match, Meerkat Match Hero Filer praised the team effort, stating, “It was a real team performance today. Everyone did their job and it’s just so good to get over the line.”
In the end, it was a hard-fought victory for Manchester Originals, marking their first win in the fourth year of The Hundred. The rollercoaster match will surely go down as one of the most memorable encounters in the tournament so far.
