Manchester Originals off the mark despite late London Spirit scare

Phil Salt and Jos Buttler lead the Originals to an imposing total before Sonny Baker and Scott Currie impress with the ball

ECB Media | 11/08/2025 at 21:15

Old Trafford: Manchester Originals 163-6, London Spirit 153-6 - Manchester Originals won by 10 runs

Manchester Originals chalked up their first win of the season after a solid all-round batting performance, with London Spirit coming up just short in their chase.

Originals' score, based on their powerful top four all totalling above 20, proved to be enough despite the evergreen David Warner's half-century in response, an innings which made him this year's leading men's run-scorer.

Ben McKinney wowed the crowd early on with three monster sixes and two fours in his 12-ball 29, while Phil Salt, for once, played second fiddle.

When he was out for 31, the Originals were 85 off just 44 balls with their sights set on 200.

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^{David Warner was back in the runs (ECB/Getty Images)}

From there, however, Jos Buttler (46 off 37) and Heinrich Klaasen (24 off 17) struggled with their timing, but the home side seemed quietly content with 163, the joint highest score in the men's competition this season, alongside the Spirit's 163 against the Welsh Fire on Saturday (August 9).

At the start of the Spirit innings, Sonny Baker bowled an electrifying ten balls, repeatedly beating Warner and going for just four runs. Warner and skipper Kane Williamson used their experience to weather the storm and take their side to 75, but run-scoring was never straightforward.

Baker, the best bowler on display, bowled an average of 87mph, and his aggression proved to be a genuine game-changer.

Jamie Smith and Ashton Turner both hit big sixes, but two runs a ball for the last 40 proved just too many. Warner was eventually strangled down the leg side by Josh Tongue, who ended up with three wickets, and the Spirit ended up 10 runs shy after Jamie Overton hit 19 off seven balls at the death.