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The third match of the 2024 Men’s Hundred saw the Welsh Fire defeat the Manchester Originals by eight wickets and a sizable margin of 43 deliveries in a low-scoring affair at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday (July 25).
With just three games into the season, let's take a look at how the points table is shaping up to be.
The Welsh Fire are living up to their name after the one game played so far in the tournament. They defeated the Manchester Originals and thus, sit atop the points table with a tournament-best Net Run Rate of +3.332.
The Oval Invincibles, too, emerged victorious in the very first game of the season, defeating the Birmingham Phoenix by eight wickets. They are second on the points table with two points from one game and a Net Run Rate of +2.289. The Southern Brave occupy the third spot on the points table with two points, but a slightly inferior but healthy Net Run Rate of +0.909.
With the tournament still in its embryonic stage, the teams occupying the lower places on the points table have all lost their first games and have a Net Run Rate of -0.909, -2.289, and -3.332, respectively. They are in the discernible order: London Spirit (fourth place), Birmingham Phoenix (fifth place), and Manchester Originals (sixth place).
All-round display helps Welsh Fire move to the top of the point stable against Manchester Originals
The decision to field first after winning the toss against the Manchester Originals did wonders for the Welsh Fire, as they restricted the Originals to a mere 86/8 in 100 deliveries. Jamie Overton (23) and Scott Currie (26*) top-scored for a hapless Manchester batting scorecard. Welsh Fire bowler David Willey (3/14) was the wrecker-in-chief for his team while his bowling partner Josh Little scalped a couple of wickets to help his team restrict the Originals.
Fire openers Tom-Kohler Cadmore (18 off 12) and Jonny Bairstow (18 off 10) got off to a decent start in the second inning. But it was Joe Clarke’s 24-ball 33 that ensured that the Welsh Fire got over the finishing line, winning the game by eight wickets and 43 balls to spare. Clarke’s innings included three boundaries and a six, and he scored his runs at a strike rate of 137.50. Scott Currie and Paul Walter picked a wicket each for the Manchester Originals but in vain.
