Northern Superchargers Secure Top Three Spot with Pooran’s Unbeaten 66 After Stokes’ Injury
Nicholas Pooran’s brilliant innings of 66* off just 33 balls helped Northern Superchargers defeat Manchester Originals by seven wickets in The Hundred, a thrilling Northern Derby at Emirates Old Trafford.
The focus was diverted from Pooran’s match-winning performance by England’s Test captain Ben Stokes, who retired injured during the chase, possibly suffering from a hamstring injury.
Key Performances and Match Scorecard
Manchester Originals 152 for 7 (Salt 61, Santner 3-24) lost to Northern Superchargers 156 for 3 (Pooran 66*, Brook 43) by seven wickets.
Match Analysis
In The Hundred, Nicholas Pooran struck 66 off just 33 balls, including eight sixes, to lead the Northern Superchargers to an incredible comeback triumph. However, Ben Stokes, the captain of the England men’s Test team, was called to the crease due to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Stokes is now questionable for the Sri Lanka series, which kicks off in Manchester on August 21. On Monday, scans will be performed to ascertain the full extent of the damage.
After Phil Salt led his Manchester team to a commanding 156 for 3, Pooran, who is having an incredible competition, entered the field at 29 for 2, with over 100 needed and everything to do. Salt left Emirates Old Trafford 62 balls later, having ensured his team’s survival.
Several times during the game, it appeared as though the hosts would win—first when Salt led Originals to their largest-ever powerplay and then later when the Superchargers needed 124 runs from 60. However, the Superchargers’ spinners held Originals back to make the chase reasonable, and Pooran, Brook, and Adam Hose came through with big hits to win the game.
All day long, the Superchargers’ assault was bolstered by outstanding batting, helped by a superb pitch at Emirates Old Trafford.
Following a similar tale in the women’s match, Phil Salt and Max Holden relished the opening exchanges. At the half, the score stood at 86 for 2, following Holden’s dismissal on the 34th ball. However, the Superchargers prevented the Originals from continuing their rapid scoring pace, and by the half, they were still in the match, albeit with plenty of work ahead of them.
With help from Brook and Hose, Pooran then performed for Andrew Flintoff’s team what he has been doing all competition long: he dispatched bowlers left, right, and centre to make the seemingly impossible appear easy. With that, he preserved the Superchargers’ chances.
Stokes’ injury, which he incurred after running a rapid single off the 12th delivery of the second innings, was the only bad news for the Superchargers, who now need to defeat London Spirit at Headingley on Tuesday to advance to the knockout stages.
Pooran, the Meerkat Match Hero, stated: “Knowing the circumstances of the game, it’s undoubtedly one of my better innings. With over 100 runs still to be scored going into the bat, this format may catch you off guard quickly, but I was thrilled to be able to contribute and see the game through.
“I was just extremely glad that he is also finding some form, even though I knew Adam Hose hit it well. One person’s contributions do not win you tournaments. When your teammates can contribute, it’s great, and hopefully on Tuesday we can go battle at our game.
“If we lost the game today we’d be out of the tournament, I’m happy that I can be there to the end, contribute, get the win for the team and hopefully the result will be the same again on Tuesday as well.”
