The Hundred men’s competition rolls into Manchester on Sunday, 11 August 2025, when Manchester Originals host London Spirit at Emirates Old Trafford. It is the second home match of the season for Originals and a vital clash for both sides, with the hosts still searching for their first win and the visitors trying to build on a narrow victory in Cardiff. Play begins at 18:30 UK time and there will be a short interval at 19:35 before the second session runs until 20:55. Manchester has been a good venue for the Originals in past seasons, but early defeats mean they desperately need points to keep pace with the leading sides.
Manchester Originals recent form
Manchester Originals have had a dismal start to the 2025 campaign. They were thrashed by Oval Invincibles at The Oval, dismissed for 128 and beaten by nine wickets. A few days earlier they lost a nail‑biter against Southern Brave by one wicket. Those defeats extended a run of poor results from the end of last season: the Originals lost to Birmingham Phoenix by nine wickets and to Northern Superchargers by seven wickets in 2024. Their last win came 12 months ago against London Spirit, so the team have now endured four consecutive losses.
Despite the slump there have been individual positives. Captain Phil Salt has been a standout performer, scoring 329 runs in his last ten Hundred innings at an average of 32.9 with a strike‑rate of 145.57. Young wicketkeeper Matty Hurst has added 151 runs at an impressive strike‑rate of 157.29, and new signing Rachin Ravindra brings all‑round ability with bat and ball. With the ball, pacer Scott Currie has taken 11 wickets in his last ten matches with an economy of 8.65, while slow left‑armer Tom Hartley has four wickets at a strike‑rate of 13.75. Originals will hope home conditions help them rediscover their winning touch.
London Spirit recent form
London Spirit arrive in Manchester with a more encouraging recent record, though they too have had inconsistent results. They opened their campaign with a heavy defeat to Oval Invincibles at The Oval, falling short by six wickets. They bounced back in Cardiff when Keaton Jennings and Liam Dawson guided Spirit to 163/5 before restricting Welsh Fire to 155/6, winning by eight runs. However, Spirit lost their final two matches of 2024 – a DLS‑affected defeat to Northern Superchargers and a nine‑wicket loss to Invincibles – and they were beaten by Manchester Originals last August. Their last five results read W‑L‑L‑L‑L.
Spirit’s batting revolves around left‑hander Keaton Jennings, who has scored 147 runs at an average of 29.4 and strike‑rate of 142.71 across his last seven innings. All‑rounder Liam Dawson is equally important: he has 143 runs at 23.83 and 10 wickets with an economy of 6.81. Fast bowler Olly Stone remains a threat with seven wickets at an economy of 7.8. With former Blackcap captain Kane Williamson providing international experience and pacer Luke Wood likely to return, Spirit have the resources to challenge even on a tough Manchester surface.
Pitch and conditions at Emirates Old Trafford
Old Trafford has a reputation for producing competitive T20 matches. According to Sportskeeda, the ground has hosted 138 T20 matches since 2003 and teams batting first have won 69 while chasing sides have triumphed 61 times. The highest recorded T20 total is 231/4 and the lowest is 53. The average score is around 160, with Lancashire’s average at 168. The Hundred statistics on Advance Cricket show that 15 matches have been played in the competition at this venue, with the team batting first winning 6 and the chasing side winning 7. The average first‑innings score in these 100‑ball games is 139 while the second‑innings average is 112, confirming that the surface tends to slow down later in the evening.
The pitch usually offers good pace and carry early in the game; however, big square boundaries mean spinners and slow bowlers can also come into play. With rain unlikely in Manchester in mid‑August, expect a typical Old Trafford surface that rewards aggressive stroke‑play early before becoming tougher as the match progresses. Given the statistics, winning the toss and batting first to post around 150‑160 runs could be a smart strategy, although chasing is far from impossible.
Prediction and Dream11 fantasy team
Manchester Originals enjoy home advantage and will be desperate to break their losing streak. However, London Spirit’s balanced squad and recent victory over Welsh Fire suggest they have a slight edge. Originals will rely on Phil Salt and Jos Buttler to fire at the top, while Spirit look stronger through the middle order with Jennings and Dawson in form. Bowling‑wise, Currie and Hartley must contain Spirit’s batting, but the visitors’ attack featuring Dawson, Stone and Luke Wood has been more consistent. Expect a tight contest; a total in the region of 155 could be match‑winning. Prediction: London Spirit to win a close game by a narrow margin.
For Dream11 fantasy players, it’s wise to prioritise multi‑role cricketers and in‑form hitters.
- Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler (Originals), Phil Salt (Originals). Both are explosive top‑order batters and also collect points behind the stumps.
- Batters: Keaton Jennings (Spirit), Matty Hurst (Originals), Kane Williamson (Spirit), Rachin Ravindra (Originals). Jennings and Hurst have been among the runs, while Williamson and Ravindra bring class and stability.
- All‑rounders: Liam Dawson (Spirit), Scott Currie (Originals). Dawson contributes with both bat and ball. Currie has taken 11 wickets across his last ten games.
- Bowlers: Tom Hartley (Originals), Olly Stone (Spirit), Luke Wood (Spirit), Noor Ahmad (Originals). Hartley and Stone provide wicket‑taking ability in the middle overs, while left‑armers Wood and Noor Ahmad can exploit any turn or swing.
- Captain: Liam Dawson (reliable all‑rounder). Vice‑captain: Phil Salt (in‑form opener).
Conclusion
Emirates Old Trafford will host an intriguing clash as Manchester Originals look to revive their campaign against a London Spirit side gathering momentum. Both teams boast match‑winners, but Spirit’s superior recent form and bowling depth make them slight favourites. Expect fireworks from Salt and Buttler and clever spin from Dawson and Hartley. Keep an eye on the toss and early conditions before finalising your fantasy picks, and enjoy what should be a thrilling 100‑ball contest. For more insights, tips and match previews throughout The Hundred season, follow our cricket blog and join the conversation in the comments.
