It's played two, lost two for Manchester Originals who need to make it third time lucky at home to Trent Rockets or face being left behind in the playoff race.
A six-wicket loss to Northern Superchargers and 62-run battering by London Spirit have left Jos Buttler's Originals playing catch-up as they prepare to welcome Trent Rockets for a Saturday afternoon shootout at Old Trafford.
And it's the Rockets who will be the more confident of the two franchises with two wins out of two under their belts.
Before the men take to the field, the women's franchises will clash in their first outings of the 2022 season.
What: | Manchester Originals v Trent Rockets, The Hundred |
Where: | Old Trafford, Manchester |
When: | 14:30, Saturday 13th August, 2022 |
How to watch: | Live on Sky Sports Main Event |
Odds: | Manchester Originals 1/1, Trent Rockets 4/5 |
It's just not happening for the Originals yet with two games played, two losses recorded, hence their even money quote for this assignment, with the Rockets a 4/5 chance.
Manchester started their season well enough by posting their highest score to date – 161-4 – in their Roses' opener against the Superchargers. Jos Buttler led from the front with a relatively pedestrian (for him) 59 off 41 balls with a solitary six.
It may have been the Originals' highest score but it wasn't enough, the Superchargers getting up with six wickets and six balls in the tank.
Three days later and Manchester were licking their wounds again, this time on the receiving end of a chastening 62-run defeat at the hands of London Spirit at Lord's.
The explosive start from Buttler in reply to 160 didn't materialise and Manchester feebly capitulated, skittled for a paltry 108.
Manchester's problems are in stark contrast to the Rockets who have been set a couple of competitive chases so far and got up both times.
Alex Hales' quickfire 58 was the backbone of their six-wicket success over Birmingham Phoenix while it was Dawid Malan who stole the show against the Superchargers with a majestic unbeaten 88 as Trent raced serenely to a seven-wicket win.
Hales also chipped in with 43 and is in the sort of form this year which is making England selectors think long and hard ahead of this autumn's World T20.
He is 12/5 to be Trent's top scorer and it's hard to see past him or 12/5 Malan for that honour at Old Trafford. Given the consistency, Hales would probably get the nod.
Buttler, naturally, is favourite to be Manchester's top runscorer at 9/4, although opener Phil Salt, who top scored with 36 at Lord's on Monday is the better value at 3/1.
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What: | Manchester Originals v Trent Rockets, The Hundred |
Where: | Old Trafford, Manchester |
When: | 11:00, Saturday 13th August, 2022 |
How to watch: | Live on Sky Sports Main Event |
Odds: | Manchester Originals Women 8/11, Trent Rockets Women 11/10 |
It's an Old Trafford double header with the women's franchises beginning proceedings at 11:00.
It's the first match of 2022 for either side and Manchester are 8/11 with the Rockets on offer at 11/10.
Last season there was virtually nothing between the two clubs. Both had three wins, both finished on seven points, both missed out on the playoffs.
However, when they met at Trent Bridge they were poles apart, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone taking 2-11 as the Rockets were restricted to a modest 122-6 before South Africa batsman Lizelle Lee bashed 47 off 45 as the Originals raced past their target with 13 balls to spare.
Lee and Ecclestone, stars from last year, will be central once again to Manchester Originals mounting a playoff bid.
Lee is 5/2 to be top scorer for the home side though rising England star and fellow opener Emma Lamb looks a better value prospect at 14/1. The 24-year-old comes fresh off a century against South Africa so her confidence will be through the roof.
For the Rockets there has had to be a last-minute reshuffle following the news that Aussie great Meg Lanning won't be joining them. Kim Garth has been recruited as an overseas replacement and while the Ireland international all-rounder is class, Lanning is pure gold and will be missed.
There is plenty of power in a batting line-up featuring the likes of Mignon du Preez and Nat Sciver – 13/2 and 13/5 respectively for top Trent scorer honours – and it's hard to imagine given the relative strengths of both sides that the match will be as one-sided as last year.
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