The Hundred 2024: Manchester Originals pluck defeat from the jaws of victory

Sam Curran continues his dream run in the 2024 competition by defending seven off the final set to give the defending champions a fourth win in five matches

ECB Media | 06/08/2024 at 18:05

Old Trafford: Oval Invincibles 164-8, Manchester Originals 161-7 - Oval Invincibles win by three runs

Sam Curran held his nerve to again be the Oval Invincibles' match-winner in a last-ball thriller against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford.

The England all-rounder conceded just three runs from the final five balls of the game as the Invincibles snatched victory by just three runs to go top of the table.

Curran is the form man of the men's competition, after claiming a hat-trick and hitting a half-century last time out against London Spirit, and was at it again in Manchester clearing the ropes on six occasions on his way to 68 from 38 balls before his heroics with the ball.

Defeat ends the hopes of the Originals, finalists in the past two years, of reaching the knockout stage.

Young Originals opener Matthew Hurst struck 50 from 29 balls, two days after his first-ever half-century in the men's competition, to initially put the hosts on course to chase down 164 for 8.

The 20-year-old shared an 89-run opening stand from 54 balls with skipper Phil Salt.

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^{Matthew Hurst reeled off a second consecutive fifty (ECB/Getty Images)}

Salt has made his name as England's hard-hitting opener and while he made a fast start, it was Hurst who stole the limelight with an array of stunning strokes to get the home crowd roaring.

But when both fell in quick succession, Hurst succumbing to some clever bowling from Will Jacks, the Originals started to show signs they were ready to throw away another winning position.

Paul Walter unleashed a couple of big hits but Wayne Madsen had the indignity of being retired not out and his replacement Sikandar Raza was immediately caught in the deep.

Jamie Overton blasted a six, but then edged Curran behind, as the England man got to work on closing out the match.

Usama Mir missed a slower ball and with four needed from the final delivery he could only pick out Tom Lammonby just inside the rope.