Cricket

Bottom-Placed Teams to Battle at Iconic Lord’s in The Hundred

August 8, 2024

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The race for a top-three finish is heating up in The Hundred event. In match 23 of the tournament, two teams currently at the bottom of the points table, London Spirit and Manchester Originals, will lock horns at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on August 9.

Manchester Originals have yet to win a match in the ongoing The Hundred competition, having lost five games in a row. Philip Salt’s side lost several games from strong positions, leading to their early elimination from the tournament.

On the other hand, London Spirit did manage to secure their first win in their third match of The Hundred 2024, but they have failed to sustain their momentum and are now on the cusp of elimination from the event. Daniel Lawrence’s side has won one and lost four of their five games, placing them in the penultimate position on the points table.

Ahead of this clash, let’s delve into the pitch report, stats, head-to-head, match prediction, and top players of this contest.

Lord’s, London Pitch Report

The pitch at Lord’s has generally favored the batters, but openers will need to handle the new ball carefully, as pacers are expected to get some lateral movement early in the innings. Batting will become easier as the game progresses, and bowlers should focus on variations to deceive the batters.

Lord’s, London Pitch Stats (The Hundred 2024)

Matches: 3

Matches won batting first: 1

Matches won batting second: 2

Average first innings total: 123

Average second innings total: 115

Highest total recorded: 147/5 (100 balls) by Oval Invincibles vs London Spirit

Lowest total recorded: 94/9 (100 balls) by Welsh Fire vs London Spirit

LNS vs MNR Head-to-Head

The London Spirit and the Manchester Originals have squared off four times in Men’s Hundred history. The Spirit won two matches, the Originals won one, and one game ended with no result.

LNS vs MNR Top Players Predictions

Liam Dawson (LNS): The English all-rounder has amassed 101 runs in five innings and scalped seven wickets in five innings in the ongoing The Hundred event. Dawson was the Hero of the Match in Spirit’s only victory this season.

Matthew Hurst (MNR): The 20-year-old batter has been the top performer for the Originals in the last two games. The right-hander has amassed 78 and 50 runs, respectively, in the last two games. He will likely play a key role for his side in this contest as well.

Phil Salt (MNR): The English swashbuckler struggled with his form earlier in the event but showed sublime performance in the previous two games, scoring 40 and 34. The 27-year-old batter will aim to maintain his momentum and secure the first win for his side.

LNS vs MNR Hit or Miss Prediction

Shimron Hetmyer (LNS): The West Indian batter has struggled with his form in The Hundred, amassing only 71 runs in five innings. The southpaw was dismissed for a golden duck in the previous game, but he has the ability to play big innings. Hetmyer is likely to regain his rhythm in this contest, with conditions in Lord’s slightly favoring the batters.

LNS vs MNR Conditions-based Predictions

Pacers will get assistance with the new ball
Spinners are unlikely to find much turn or grip on this surface
Bowling first should be a good choice

LNS vs MNR Match Predictions

The Hundred: Phil Salt and Hurst — Source: X/Twitter

Philip Salt and Matthew Hurst looked promising in their previous two outings, providing a solid start for the Originals. They are expected to score over 20.5 runs (1.85) for the first wicket in this contest. On the other hand, London Spirit is likely to lose one of its openers under 18.5 runs (1.85). Considering Matthew Hurst’s current form, he will likely score over 15.5 runs (1.85). The Lord’s Cricket Ground has favored the batters, and the total wickets in this match might remain under 13.5 (1.81). The Odds.

LNS vs MNR Winner Prediction

Both sides have underperformed in this edition’s The Hundred competition, and this match is crucial for London Spirit to stay alive in this tournament. Team bowling first will have a slight advantage in this contest.

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