Manchester Super Giants beat London Spirit by 7 runs – The Hundred Match Report
Manchester Super Giants won by 7 runs in the 3rd match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 at Lord’s. Liam Livingstone delivered a performance for the ages – 69 off 40 balls with the bat and 2/14 with the ball – to steer London Spirit agonisingly close but ultimately short in a thrilling contest. The loss leaves Spirit rooted to 7th (0W 1L, 0pts) while Manchester Super Giants climb to 2nd (1W 0L, 4pts) with a net run rate of 0.42.
Manchester Super Giants Post 138 for 9
London Spirit won the toss and elected to bowl, but Manchester Super Giants made early inroads despite losing Aiden Markram for just 1 at 16/1 in the 3rd over. Tim Seifert took control with 67 off 45 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 149, anchoring the innings through the middle overs. Jos Buttler struck 16 off 11 (1 four, 1 six) before being clean bowled, while Heinrich Klaasen added 17 off 11 (1 four, 1 six) to keep the momentum building.
The innings stuttered in the death overs as Spirit’s bowlers tightened the screws. Liam Livingstone was the standout with the ball, taking 2/14 from 3.2 overs at an economy of 4.2 – a masterclass in death bowling. Adam Zampa claimed 2/27 from 2.3 overs, while James Coles took 1/24 from 2.3. Manchester Super Giants limped to 138 for 9 – a modest total that would require Spirit to bat with precision.
London Spirit Fall Seven Short
Spirit’s chase began positively with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (12 off 13) and Kiran Carlson (19 off 19) putting on 37 runs in the opening overs. But Gus Atkinson struck twice in quick succession – Pretorius caught at 14/1 and James Rew for a duck at 14/2 – to destabilise the innings.
Livingstone then took centre stage with one of the most explosive individual performances of the tournament. He smashed 69 off just 40 balls (4 fours, 5 sixes) at a strike rate of 173, single-handedly keeping Spirit in the hunt. His 69 came at the crucial juncture – Spirit were 51/2 after 9 overs when he arrived, and he transformed the chase into a genuine contest. Dewald Brevis contributed 22 off 23 (2 fours) in support, but the loss of Livingstone clean bowled at 130/4 in the 19th over proved decisive.
Gus Atkinson was Manchester’s standout bowler with 2/15 from 3.2 overs, while Sonny Baker took 2/29 from 3.2 and Josh Tongue claimed 1/26 from 3.2. Spirit reached 131 for 6 – just 7 runs short of what would have been a stunning chase.
Statz MVP: Liam Livingstone (Statz Rating: 178.24)
Liam Livingstone earns the Statz MVP award with a Statz Rating of 178.24 – the standout performance of the match. His 69 off 40 with the bat was the centrepiece of Spirit’s chase, struck at a blistering 173 strike rate, while his 2/14 with the ball earlier in the evening showcased his value as a genuine all-rounder. Statz calculates impact based on match context, and Livingstone’s combined contribution across both disciplines was extraordinary – even in defeat.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Liam Livingstone (LS) – Statz Rating: 178.24 | 69 off 40 (SR 173) plus 2/14 with the ball. Dominant all-round display that nearly won the match single-handedly.
- Tim Seifert (MSG) – Statz Rating: 94.62 | 67 off 45 (SR 149, 6 fours, 3 sixes). Anchored Manchester’s innings through the middle overs.
- Gus Atkinson (MSG) – Statz Rating: 90.98 | 2/15 from 3.2 overs at economy 4.5. Broke Spirit’s opening partnership with two early strikes.
- Liam Dawson (MSG) – Statz Rating: 48.02 | 9 off 9 with the bat plus 1/23 from 3.2 overs with the ball. Steady all-round contribution.
- Heinrich Klaasen (MSG) – Statz Rating: 41.41 | 17 off 11 (SR 155, 1 four, 1 six). Quick-fire cameo in the middle order.
Turning Point
The match turned when Liam Livingstone was clean bowled for 69 at 130/4 in the 19th over (ball 19.3). Livingstone had been carrying the chase with a strike rate of 173, and his dismissal left Spirit needing 9 off the final over with the lower order exposed. Though Dewald Brevis and James Coles pushed them agonisingly close, the loss of Livingstone shifted the balance decisively in Manchester’s favour.
Match Context
This was the 3rd match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 group stage. Manchester Super Giants (2nd, 1W 0L, 4pts) make a winning start with a net run rate of 0.42. London Spirit (7th, 0W 1L, 0pts) will rue how close they came – just 7 runs from what would have been a statement victory at Lord’s. See the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, or explore the bet builder for indicative odds.
