Sonny Baker celebrated his maiden England call-up by producing a stunning performance for Manchester Originals in the new The Hundred tournament. The 22-year-old seamer took 3 wickets for just 21 runs against Northern Superchargers, propelling his team to a commanding victory. This match served as a launching pad for Baker’s burgeoning talent. It further cemented his place on the England white-ball squads to face South Africa and Ireland.
Their scoreless showdown occurred at the historic Old Trafford in Manchester, England. The Originals set the tone, smashing an incredible 171 runs for only 3 wickets in their 100 balls. Jos Buttler led the charge with an unbeaten 64, while Heinrich Klaasen contributed a solid 50 runs to the team’s total. In reply, the Northern Superchargers never really got going, reaching just 114 runs in 87 balls.
After Baker’s bowling, the other highlight of the match came from their 16-year-old debutant. He started his spell in brilliant fashion, taking the wicket of experienced batsman Dawid Malan bowled with a slower ball. This genius move put the Superchargers on the backfoot at 63 for 5. His control of the game when it mattered most was clear when he returned at the death of the innings. Before long, he had further trouble abroad, claiming a pair of wickets. One of them was a brilliant 88 mph yorker that shattered Jacob Duffy’s stumps and doomed the Superchargers.
The match ended with Manchester Originals completing the win by a considerable margin, due largely to Baker’s dominant display.
“It is a big win for us, we needed it.” – Liam Livingstone
Besides Baker’s heroics, Birmingham Phoenix had covered similar territory for the other side in another match. They defeated London Spirit in the semi-final by seven wickets, thanks mostly to the explosive batting of Liam Livingstone. Livingstone fielded in a full cricket kit, as he hit 45 runs off just 20 balls. With the ball, he captured 3 wickets for just 26 runs. His overall performance would prove to be critical for Phoenix, as they found themselves deeper in the tournament in search of success.
Joe Clarke then electrified Birmingham’s innings with a rapid 54 runs from only 25 balls. His performance goes to show how deep the Bearcats’ talent appears to be this season.
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