Manchester Super Giants Edge London Spirit in High-Scoring Hundred Encounter

The Hundred men’s competition, Lord’s

Manchester Super Giants 138-9 (100 balls): Seifert 67 (45); Livingstone 2-14

London Spirit 131-6 (100 balls): Livingstone 69 (40); Atkinson 2-15

Manchester Super Giants won by seven runs

Super Giants secured a narrow seven-run victory over London Spirit in an exhilarating Hundred contest at Lord’s, despite a valiant late onslaught from Liam Livingstone.

Chasing 139, the home side’s hopes rested heavily on Livingstone, whose 40-ball knock of 69 from number four was bolstered by his earlier bowling figures of 2-14. Coming in after James Rew fell for a two-ball duck, Livingstone rebuilt with Kiran Carlson (19) before adding a crucial 68 runs with Dewald Brevis.

The South African international played a steady junior partner role, smashing 22 off 23 balls before being caught and bowled by Gus Atkinson, who claimed 2-15, during the penultimate over. Needing 12 off the final five deliveries, Livingstone faced England seamer Sonny Baker.

Livingstone, who had already cleared the ropes five times, was intent on repeating his heroics. However, it was Baker who emerged victorious, conceding only four more runs before bowling his opponent and securing the final wicket as James Coles was caught off the match’s last delivery, leaving Spirit all out for 131-6.

Earlier, Super Giants captain Aiden Markram had a hesitant start, managing just one run off ten balls before being trapped lbw by Adam Milne. It was opening partner Tim Seifert who provided the innings backbone, smashing 67 from 45 deliveries and sharing substantial stands of 49 with Jos Buttler (16) and 40 with Heinrich Klaasen (17).

However, the batting collapsed thereafter as Spirit took seven wickets for a paltry 35 runs, with the hosts bowled out for 138-9. Seifert was the seventh to fall, caught at mid-wicket by David Willey off James Coles, but his knock had successfully set a challenging total for the visitors.

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