In a thrilling eliminator match, the Manchester Originals achieved a remarkable feat by successfully chasing down a target of 197, setting a new record for the highest chase in the history of The Hundred. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 190 set by the Trent Rockets against the Originals in the last season.

The Originals showcased their formidable batting prowess, amassing a total of 201 for the loss of only three wickets against the Southern Brave. This performance ties for the second-highest team total in The Hundred. The highest total, also held by the Originals, stands at 208 for 5, achieved against the Northern Superchargers in the previous season. The Superchargers themselves had posted a score of 201 for 3 earlier in the current season against the Brave in Southampton.

The match at The Oval witnessed an incredible display of firepower, with a combined total of 397 runs scored by both the Originals and the Brave. This marks the highest aggregate for a match in the history of The Hundred, eclipsing the previous record of 393 runs in a clash between the Superchargers and the Originals at Headingley in 2022.

In an unusual turn of events, the Southern Brave became only the fifth team in men’s T20 history to lose a game despite successfully batting through the scheduled overs with the loss of just one wicket, a testament to the competitiveness of the encounter.

Southern Brave’s batting lineup showcased exceptional form, with three of their top-order batsmen – Finn Allen, Devon Conway, and James Vince – all achieving half-centuries in the same innings. Despite this impressive feat, they find themselves in a rare category of batsmen in men’s T20s who have scored 50-plus runs in a losing effort.

The Originals wasted no time in their pursuit of victory, reaching the 100-run mark in just 41 balls. This lightning-fast century is joint-fastest in The Hundred, matching their own record set against the Northern Superchargers in the previous season’s away fixture.

The partnership between Finn Allen and Devon Conway yielded a staggering 122 runs, setting a new record for the highest opening stand in the men’s Hundred. This surpassed the previous best of 121, achieved by Quinton de Kock and Paul Stirling for the Southern Brave against the Welsh Fire in 2022.

While their partnership was awe-inspiring, it fell just short of the highest ever recorded in the competition – an unbeaten 124-run stand between Dawid Malan and D’Arcy Short for the second wicket for the Trent Rockets against the Brave in 2021.

The Southern Brave had not previously posted a total exceeding 170 in The Hundred. Their previous highest score in the competition was 168 for 5 against the Birmingham Phoenix in the final of the 2021 season. The Brave’s total of 196 for 1 in the eliminator, therefore, stands as the fifth highest by any side in the history of The Hundred, underscoring their proficiency in setting formidable totals. Batting first has been a relatively uncommon occurrence for the Brave, having done so only seven times in 27 matches.