Dane Vilas provides early £125,000 shock as Chris Gayle and Lasith Malinga miss out on Hundred deal

NICK FRIEND AT THE HUNDRED DRAFT: South African wicketkeeper Vilas, Lancashire’s club captain, was one of two players from the county to get picked up in the maximum price bracket, with Liam Livingsyone the other

Dane Vilas was picked up by Manchester Originals for £125,000 as Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga and Kagiso Rabada all missed out on selection at the inaugural draft for The Hundred.

South African wicketkeeper Vilas, Lancashire’s club captain, was one of two players from the county to get picked up in the maximum price bracket, with Liam Livingsyone the other.

It seems likely that Vilas, one of two wicketkeeping options in the Originals’ squad alongside Jos Buttler, will captain Manchester's Hundred team.

Livingstone, who played in this year’s Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals, was signed by Birmingham Phoenix in the maximum salary band.

Elsewhere, Rashid Khan was the first player to be picked in the draft, a move that seemed to throw Southern Brave, who took almost a minute before picking up Andre Russell as their first player.

Only Glenn Maxwell and Alex Davies scored more runs in last season’s T20 Blast for Lancashire than Vilas, who led his side to top spot in the north division.

They were beaten, however, in their quarter-final against eventual champions Essex, when his decision to bowl Livingstone in the penultimate over backfired.

More to follow