The Northern Superchargers claimed their second consecutive victory against the Manchester Originals in the northern derbies held at Headingley in the Hundred on Sunday. This time, Harry Brook’s team triumphed over their rivals from across the Pennines with a 14-run lead, mirroring the success achieved earlier in the day by Hollie Armitage’s squad.
Despite winning the toss and opting to bowl, the Originals faced a challenging start due to the rain-soaked pitch and overcast skies. The Superchargers had a slow beginning, with Fazalhaq Farooqi taking a wicket on the first ball.
Graham Clark and captain Harry Brook then stabilised the innings, forming a crucial 50-run partnership. Brook’s dynamic performance yielded 58 runs off 33 balls before he was caught by Scott Currie at mid-off.
The Originals managed to restrict the Superchargers to 167 for 5, thanks to a strong finish. In response, Originals’ captain Phil Salt and Matty Hurst provided a solid start, amassing a 90-run opening partnership. Salt contributed 40 runs from 27 balls, while Hurst led with an impressive 78 off 45 balls.
However, the Originals’ momentum faltered as they collapsed from 90 for 1 to 128 for 4, with key run-outs and Mitchell Santner’s 2 for 23 turning the game. With Hurst’s dismissal, the Originals needed 29 runs from 13 balls but fell short, leaving them at the bottom of the table while the Superchargers climbed to third place.
Harry Brook, honoured as the Meerkat Match Hero, remarked on the match: He felt the Originals were ahead after the power play, but praised their exceptional bowling at the death for securing the win. Brook admitted their batting power play didn’t go as planned, but their perseverance paid off. He noted the fast outfield allowed him to focus on finding gaps rather than hitting aerial shots, which proved effective. Brook highlighted the importance of taking wickets, especially after failing to do so in the power play, and credited Adil Rashid and Mitchell Santner for their critical contributions in clinching the victory.