Usama Mir overshadows England stars with bat and ball to steer Originals win
Manchester Originals 160 for 8 (Buttler 43, Mir 32*, Howell 3-21) beat Birmingham Phoenix 111 (Livingstone 27, Hartley 3-13, Little 2-15, Mir 2-27) by 49 runs
Mir boosted Manchester from No. 8 with an ingenious 14-ball assault and completed with 2 for 27 from 20 balls as final yr’s finalists claimed their first win after an early defeat and no consequence.
England limited-overs fringe fast Richard Gleeson additionally returned 2 for 22, together with Moeen lbw, as he bowled in a match for the primary time since January following wrist surgical procedure.
This was Birmingham’s first accomplished fixture after two no outcomes.
After being inserted, the Originals had been solely 26 for 1 after 25 balls following Phil Salt’s early departure lbw to Adam Milne.
Buttler continued his encouraging begin to the competitors with a quartet of boundaries in 33 balls, including to earlier scores of 37 not out and 62.
But Ashton Turner, for 21 like Evans, was caught behind making an attempt to fend off a vicious Tom Helm bouncer earlier than Buttler’s departure was adopted by Paul Walter falling caught at brief wonderful leg off Howell to make it 105 for six after 76 balls.
Significant impetus was added as Mir scooped, ramped and clobbered a six over midwicket off Kane Richardson. Jamie Overton additionally powered a helpful 22 earlier than being run out as one among two late wickets.
Phoenix’s chase then slipped to 21 for 3 after 14 balls. They misplaced openers Will Smeed and Ben Duckett caught at midwicket in opposition to Gleeson and fellow fast Josh Little earlier than the previous struck Moeen on the again pad with a searing yorker.
Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith, the latter twice in two balls, hit sixes to advance. But it was solely a short respite. Smith was caught at long-on for 15 off Walter’s left-arm seam earlier than Mir had Dan Mousley lbw, leaving Phoenix with a mountain to climb at 64 for five after 47. And it was a process too nice.
Hartley completed with a late 3 for 13 and Ireland’s Little added a second wicket to wrap up victory.