3 Reasons Why MO Lost to SB in the 2nd Match of The Hundred 2025

A cold night in Manchester saw Phil Salt light up the pitch, and with things firmly in hand, the Originals seemed on course for their season’s maiden triumph. Salt played like a madman doing his captain’s job, scoring 60 off 41 balls with clinical power. At 105/4, with only 18 balls remaining, against a well dangerous Brave, Manchester looked set to get to 150. However, cricket, as we know it, loves to tell its own story. With one ball remaining, Southern Brave stole a dramatic 1-wicket win! So, how were some exciting moments unravelled away from Manchester? Here are three reasons why Manchester Originals slipped up at home.

Death Overs Dribble – The Originals’ Batting Stuttered When It Mattered Most

Let’s start with the obvious – Manchester’s finish with the bat was more of a whimper than a bang. When Salt went at the 82nd ball, it was a metaphorical death knell for the innings. Klaasen, Buttler, and Hurst were all disappointing; it was no more so in the death overs, where our last 18 balls yielded just 26 runs, and some thought Chapman and Gregory would at least alter the gears. Chapman looked ok, but Gregory was a real buzzkill. If I think we should have posted at least 15 more, with wickets to spare in ideal conditions, with it being an absolute road. It wasn’t a collapse, it was a choke.

Mills’ Magic – The Bowler Who Broke Originals’ Backbone

Call him a left-arm pacer if you must, but Mills is really Durham’s version of a plot twist. If any bowler deserved the limelight tonight, it was Mills. With figures of 3 for 22 in a format where bowlers are frequently mere cannon fodder, he was Brave’s beating heart. He didn’t just take wickets; he took key wickets—Salt, Buttler, and Klaasen. All three were key parts of the Originals batting machine. Mills didn’t just plug the run-flow; he cut the electricity supply altogether. In a game that was decided by the last ball, every one of his dot balls felt heavier than gold. Without that three-wicket knock-out punch, Originals would have been defending 150 instead of 131.

Lack of Killer Instinct – Failing to Seal the Deal at the Death

And then the old adversary that Manchester has all too often seen sunk in was that they lacked a killer instinct. With Brave wobbling at 104/8 and the ball with 87 on the scoreboard, this match was crying out for the Originals to close the door, but instead of driving the blade home, they took their foot off the pedal. Overton scored a ferocious 18 off 8, and Mills somehow scrambled to 8 off 4, exposing how firmly the Originals had failed to kill off the Brave tail. Field placement became lethargic. Bowling plans went adrift. In the final stretch, Southern Brave went full throttle—13 deliveries turned into a highlight reel of destruction. This was not just a failure to execute; this was a naive mismanagement of pressure. The Brave lower order wrenched it from them.

So how did it all slip away? Manchester set the stage, had the majority of the ball possession, and even controlled about 90% of the game. But with a middle order that failed to provide stability, a Mills masterclass, and some late innings calamity, they let the win slip through their fingers like sand. 

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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