After suffering consecutive defeats at the beginning of their 2024 Men’s Hundred season, the London Spirits secured their first win of the tournament by way of defeating Welsh Fire by three wickets. The match became intriguing because of the likes of Liam Dawson’s three-wicket haul and Nathan Ellis’s clever bowling, which drastically eased the chase for the Spirits on their domestic floor in London.
Winning the toss and opting to field first, captain Liam Dawson’s choice yielded immediately tremendous outcomes. Welsh Fire struggled to put a good score as they lost two wickets during the powerplay, with the score at simply 32. The introduction of Dawson and Ellis into the attack further compounded Welsh Fire’s woes.
On the 22nd ball of the run-chase, Spencer Johnson delivered a short, wide ball angling across the right-handed batsman. Jonny Bairstow moved to his right, attempting a cut shot, but the ball was too close, resulting in an inside edge that crashed into the stumps. It was a crucial early wicket for Oval Invincibles, who had only posted 113 runs.
Spencer Johnson, fired up after taking the wicket, let out an angry roar as Bairstow walked off, visibly disappointed.
Bairstow can't believe it 😵
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 1, 2024
He departs for 12 at the hands of Nathan Ellis!#TheHundred | 📍 Lord's pic.twitter.com/ORxqLL9lWf
Dawson removed Luke Wells for 23 and Jonny Bairstow shortly after, disrupting the middle order. Glenn Phillips and Tom Abell tried to stabilize the innings, holding out for 22 balls, but Dawson’s return to the attack broke their partnership. With Phillips and Abell back in the pavilion, Andre Russell and Ellis provided additional breakthroughs, reducing Welsh Fire to 86/7 by the 18th set. The tailenders could muster only eight more runs, ending their innings at 94/9 after 100 balls.
In response, the Spirits had a rocky start. Matt Henry’s lethal opening spell put the Spirits on the back foot, as he dismissed Michel-Kyle Pepper, Adam Rossington, and Ollie Pope within the first six sets, limiting the powerplay score to a mere 18 runs. Dan Lawrence tried to anchor the innings under immense pressure, but his efforts were in vain as Ravi Bopara fell to Haris Rauf in the ninth set, with the Spirits struggling at 39/4.
With the required run rate nearing a run-a-ball, Shimron Hetmyer took charge. His aggressive approach included a couple of fours and a six, which shifted the momentum in favor of the Spirits. Lawrence and Andre Russell joined in the 16th set, contributing crucial runs. Despite another wicket falling in the subsequent set, the situation became tense for the Spirits. However, Hetmyer’s calm and calculated six off Rauf sealed the victory, allowing the Spirits to chase down the modest target with twelve balls to spare.
This maiden win was a much-needed morale boost for the London Spirits, reflecting their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. The contributions from key players like Dawson, Ellis, and Hetmyer were instrumental in this turnaround, setting a hopeful tone for the rest of their campaign.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.