The opening clash in the men’s competition of The Hundred pits Oval Invincibles (OVI) and Manchester Originals (MNR) against each other. A thrilling game is on the cards as both teams have plenty of outstanding players in their ranks.
Team News
Jason Roy and Will Jacks are likely to open the batting for the Sam Billings-led OVI. The Curran Brothers – Tom Curran and Sam Curran – are the two other exciting players who could be in action tonight. The franchise can only field two overseas players – Sunil Narine and Colin Ingram – as Tabraiz Shamsi has replaced Sandeep Lamichhane on Wednesday. However, the South African will join the squad only after the T20I series against Ireland. Aussie-born spinner Nathan Sowter is likely to feature in the playing eleven.
MNR has a full-strength squad available for the tournament opener. A daunting task awaits OVI bowlers as the MNR batting unit consists of big-hitters Jos Buttler, Colin Munro, Carlos Brathwaite, Phil Salt, and Joe Clarke. Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson, too, could make it to the playing eleven. The franchise has plenty of players to pick from in the fast bowling department. Meanwhile, Matt Parkinson, Colin Ackermann, and uncapped Tom Hartley are the spin options.
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Stats & Facts
86 – MNR trio J Buttler, C Munro, and J Clarke have combined hit 86 sixes in T20 matches in 2021
60 – OVI batsman J Cox averages 60 in Vitality Blast 2021
24 – OVI fast bowler S Mahmood has claimed 24 wickets from 12 matches in T20 matches in 2021
263 & 12 – MNR all-rounder C Ackermann has scored 263 runs and taken 12 wickets in Vitality Blast 2021
4 – MNR batsman S Hain has hit joint-most fifties – four half-centuries from 12 innings – in Vitality Blast 2021
Squads
OVI: S Billings, J Cox; J Roy, C Ingram, A Blake, L Evans, R Burns; S Narine, S Curran, W Jacks, J Clark; T Curran, S Mahmood, R Topley, N Sowter, B Glover
MNR: J Buttler, P Salt; C Munro, J Clarke, S Hain, T Lammonby; C Brathwaite, J Overton, C Ackermann; L Ferguson, S Finn, O Robinson, M Parkinson, R Gleeson, F Klaassen, T Hartley
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Parameswaran Sankaranarayanan
Parameswaran Sankaranarayan is a sports enthusiast who has worked in print, website, and other digital platforms. He was part of the editorial team of first-ever Indian football-based website - IndianFootball.com (now defunct) - and passionately follows the latest happenings in world football. During his time as a journalist, he had the opportunity to interact with some of the iconic personalities in Indian sports and witness some memorable moments in Indian football.
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