In this article, we will discuss First win in The Hundred men’s competition for London Spirit, a low-scoring match at Lord’s that ended in a thrilling three-wicket victory over Welsh Fire. The match saw standout performances from Liam Dawson and Nathan Ellis, who each claimed three wickets, and a crucial unbeaten partnership between Dan Lawrence and Shimron Hetmyer that guided Spirit to a nervy but decisive win.
In a tight, low-scoring match, London Spirit defeated Welsh Fire to win by three wickets and secure their first victory of The Hundred men’s competition at Lord’s.
Liam Dawson and Nathan Ellis spearheaded the bowling attack, each taking three wickets, which restricted Welsh Fire to a meager 94 for nine. Dan Worrall’s exceptional opening spell, with his first 10 balls being dots, set a disciplined tone for Spirit’s bowlers.
In the chase, Matt Henry’s three quick wickets gave Welsh Fire a glimmer of hope, but Dan Lawrence remained composed, scoring an unbeaten 29. His efforts, along with Shimron Hetmyer’s powerful unbeaten 30, ensured Spirit reached the target with 13 balls to spare, despite the nervy moments.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore struggled against Worrall, failing to score off his first 10 balls and was eventually caught by Andre Russell off Olly Stone. Worrall then removed Luke Wells, who had hit the only two sixes of the innings.
Dawson bowled Joe Clarke, leaving Jonny Bairstow stranded and unable to influence the early part of the innings, facing just two of the first 35 balls.
Bairstow managed a couple of boundaries when he finally got to the crease but was soon bowled by Ellis. Ellis and Dawson then applied relentless pressure, conceding just 26 runs from their combined 40 balls. Dawson’s skill on the two-paced pitch was evident as he finished with impressive figures of three for 10, leaving Welsh Fire with a subpar score.
In response, Spirit needed a steady start but found themselves in trouble as Henry dismissed Michael Pepper, Ollie Pope, and Adam Rossington early, reducing them to 25 for three. Haris Rauf also made an impact, catching Ravi Bopara behind the stumps, but Lawrence and Hetmyer steadied the ship with a crucial 46-run partnership.
Lawrence, after contributing significantly, skied a catch off Rauf, who then bowled Russell the very next ball. Hetmyer, though, survived a dropped catch and a missed stumping by Bairstow, and hit a six to seal the victory, launching Spirit’s campaign.
Reflecting on the game, Dawson, named Meerkat Match Hero, said, “Tonight was crucial for us after losing the first two games. Winning this will boost our confidence immensely. The pitch was helpful for my bowling style, and it felt good to put the ball in the right areas.”
Spirit’s captain Lawrence added, “Hopefully, this win sets us on a roll. I made the mistake of trying to finish the game too quickly. The key was to stay calm and take calculated risks.”
Welsh Fire (Men) – 94/9 (100 balls)
London Spirit (Men) – 96/7 (87/100 balls)
Result – Spirit won by 3 wickets (with 13 balls remaining)
Player of the match – Liam Dawson
Liam Dawson
Welsh Fire | Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Jonny Bairstow, Luke Wells, Joe Clarke, Tom Abell, Glenn Phillips, David Willey, David Payne, Matt Henry, Mason Crane, Haris Rauf |
London Spirit | Michael Pepper, Adam Rossington, Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Liam Dawson, Olly Stone, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Worrall |
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