Manchester Originals hit record score in victory over Northern Superchargers

Manchester Originals wreaked havoc at Headingley on Sunday evening as they hammered a record score in The Hundred’s short history – 208 for five – on their way to a 23-run win over Northern Superchargers.

Phil Salt and Laurie Evans mounted a blistering opening attack, scoring 94 off the first 35 deliveries, including seven sixes and nine fours as they obliterated the Superchargers’ bowlers.

The home side clawed their way back into contention after the opening blitz, but Tristan Stubbs and Paul Walter saw the Originals to only the competition’s second total of 200 or more with 16 maximums, taking their side past the record number of sixes hit in an innings with ease.

The Superchargers could not match the demolition job of the Originals’ batters and, despite Adam Hose’s best efforts in scoring 59 off 27, he could only lift his side to a total of 185 for seven.

In a new-look opening partnership in the absence of captain Jos Buttler, who sustained a calf injury last time out, Salt and Evans set about causing mayhem from the off. Salt climbed into David Willey, hitting him for two boundaries in the first set.

After Salt was dropped by Dwayne Bravo on 15, a difficult high chance that just slipped through his hands near the boundary edge, Evans punished the all-rounder by hitting him for four consecutive boundaries and finishing with a six into the crowd over deep midwicket.

With the Superchargers’ bowling attack rapidly falling apart after Salt bludgeoned Adil Rashid for three consecutive sixes, captain Faf du Plessis called an early time-out to attempt to regain control.

The tactic worked, with first Evans holing out to Harry Brook at long-on for 45 off Bravo, then Salt caught out in the same area off David Wiese for 55,