🔥 Introduction: The Hundred Delivers Again
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If you thought The Hundred was all about entertainment, yesterday’s clash between Manchester Originals vs Southern Brave was a masterclass in tension, drama, and last-ball nerve. Played on August 6, 2025, at Old Trafford, this match turned into a sensational thriller that ended in a one-wicket win for the Brave — with just one ball remaining.
The game had everything:
- A calculated knock by Phil Salt
- A brilliant bowling spell from Currie
- A clutch finish by the experienced Tymal Mills
- Nerves, heartbreak, and celebration – all in a single evening
This is the kind of cricket that fuels the soul of The Hundred.
🧾 First Innings: Manchester Originals Steady the Ship
Batting first, the Manchester Originals started cautiously. Early wickets were avoided, but scoring wasn’t easy. Phil Salt, the reliable top-order anchor, played a sensible and smart innings. He paced his knock well, attacking when needed and rotating the strike efficiently.
🔹 Salt’s 60 Steals the Spotlight
With a smooth 60 off 39 balls, Phil Salt gave Manchester the platform they desperately needed on a slightly two-paced pitch. His timing was sharp, and his intent was visible right from ball one. Despite losing partners at intervals, Salt ensured the scoreboard kept ticking.
Other batters like Ashton Turner and Jos Buttler couldn’t convert starts into something substantial, which meant the pressure of building a total largely rested on Salt’s shoulders.
🎯 Score at End of 100 Balls:
Manchester Originals – 131/4
It was a competitive total, but perhaps 10–15 runs short considering Old Trafford’s dimensions. Nonetheless, Originals had a solid bowling attack to defend it.
🎳 Southern Brave’s Chase – A Rollercoaster Ride
A target of 132 in 100 balls may not look like a mountain, but when you’re facing a spirited Originals bowling attack, nothing comes easy.
Southern Brave started decently, with James Vince and Jason Roy finding boundaries in the Powerplay. But things soon spiraled into chaos.
🔥 Currie’s Magic Over Turns the Game
With Brave cruising at 54/1, the game flipped when George Scrimshaw and Josh Little applied pressure. But the real show came from bowler Currie, who ripped through Brave’s middle order with a deadly spell of 4 wickets for 28 runs.
In just 15 balls, Brave lost 4 key players, including Roy (30 off 22), as the required run rate started climbing.
The Originals looked like favorites at this stage, as the Brave were reduced to 97/8, still needing 35 off 20 balls. The crowd was on fire. The players felt the heat. But cricket had other plans.
💪 Tymal Mills – The Calm in the Storm
Enter Tymal Mills, the man with nerves of steel. Known for his death-over bowling, he showed that he could swing the bat too. He partnered with Rehan Ahmed and smartly rotated strike, punished loose deliveries, and even found a boundary when it mattered most.
Despite losing Rehan in the 98th ball, Brave still needed 3 off 2 balls, with only one wicket left.
And then, calmly, Mills did it.
Southern Brave reached 133/9 in 99 balls, winning the match by a single wicket and sending shockwaves through the Originals’ camp.
📊 Final Scorecard Summary:
🏏 Manchester Originals: 131/4 (100 balls)
- Phil Salt: 60 (39)
- Jos Buttler: 18 (12)
- Turner: 14 (9)
- Top Bowler (Brave): Currie – 4/28 (20 balls)
🏏 Southern Brave: 133/9 (99 balls)
- Jason Roy: 30 (22)
- Tymal Mills: 18* (10)
- Top Bowler (Originals): Josh Little – 2/20
🟢 Southern Brave won by 1 wicket with 1 ball to spare.
🏅 Player of the Match: Tymal Mills
While Currie’s four-wicket burst was game-defining, the calm finishing touch from Tymal Mills under immense pressure secured the match. His control, smart running, and experience were exactly what the Brave needed in that moment.
🎥 Match Highlights You Can’t Miss
- Phil Salt’s effortless strokeplay in the Powerplay
- Currie’s triple breakthrough in the space of 12 balls
- Tense final over where Mills controlled the chase with maturity
- Old Trafford crowd rising to their feet with every run and wicket
💬 Expert Take: What This Match Means
This game shows exactly why The Hundred format works — short, sharp, thrilling cricket where every ball truly matters.
For Southern Brave, it was a huge early-season boost and a display of their depth under pressure. Their ability to stay composed when the game seemed lost speaks volumes about their mental toughness.
For Manchester Originals, it was a tough pill to swallow. They did a lot right but will need to reflect on:
- Not capitalizing on Salt’s innings
- Lack of middle-overs acceleration
- Inability to close the game when they had Brave 8 down
🔮 What’s Next?
- Southern Brave now carry momentum and belief into their next fixtures. The win showed their resilience and adaptability — key traits in tournament formats.
- Manchester Originals need to shake off the disappointment quickly. The Hundred is short, and every game is a potential decider.
📌 Final Thoughts
The atmosphere at Old Trafford was electric, the cricket intense, and the result — unforgettable. In a game that had everything — from top-order stability to a mid-innings collapse and then a death-over thriller — The Hundred 2025 once again proved why it’s the most entertaining short-format tournament in the cricketing world today.
Whether you’re a stats nerd, a drama lover, or a passionate fan of your team — this match ticked every box. And yes, as Brave walked away with the win, one thing was certain:
In The Hundred, it’s never over until the final ball is bowled.
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