The Hundred 2024: Jos Buttler absent as Welsh Fire thump Manchester Originals

A calf injury meant England men's white-ball captain was missing as Originals went down to a heavy defeat on home turf, as Fire followed the women by landing an impressive victory

ECB Media | 25/07/2024 at 21:24

Old Trafford: Manchester Originals 86-8, Welsh Fire 87-2 - Welsh Fire won by eight wickets

Welsh Fire strolled to victory against Manchester Originals in record time in The Hundred, inspired by their trio of left-arm pacers who derailed the home team's batting effort before it ever got going.

David Willey, David Payne and Josh Little took 6 for 46 between them from their 60 balls, reducing the Originals, without injured captain Jos Buttler, to 4 for 4, then 26 for 5 and 37 for 7.

Manchester Originals had no answer to the trio – who also registered 36 dot balls amongst their 60 balls of carnage – as they consistently hit heavy lengths at good pace on a pitch that never looked easy to bat on.

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^{Jonny Bairstow struck a quick-fire 18 in 10 balls (ECB/Getty Images)}

Jamie Overton and Scott Currie hung around with the bat for long enough to prevent Originals from posting the lowest-ever total in The Hundred, but their eventual score of 86-8 was at best an exercise in saving face.

Welsh Fire's target of 87 seemed academic and it proved as such, knocked off with a record 43 balls to spare, for the loss of just Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Jonny Bairstow.

It was the perfect start for Mike Hussey's Welsh Fire and it sealed a double win for the Cardiff-based side after their women's team's success earlier in the day.