OI vs MO, Review | Rashid Khan spell and Invincibles openers knocks ensures comfortable nine-wicket win

‌The Oval Invincibles had won the toss and chose to field first in their first home game of the season. The first 25 balls of the game saw an even battle between the two teams, where Jason Behrendorff managed to get two early breakthroughs, with Matty Hurst and Jos Buttler being dismissed on ducks. However, Manchester Originals skipper Philip Salt made sure that he got some runs on the board towards the end of the powerplay with the score reading 43/2. After the power play, Salt was supported by Mark Chapman at the other end as the duo formed a 50+ partnership for the third wicket. However, as soon as the partnership started to look threatening, Rashid Khan negated the threat in his second over to get the important breakthrough of Chapman, who was caught at cover while trying to take the attack to the Afghan legend. With the score at 73/3 after 50 balls, it was still an evenly matched contest between the two teams. While Salt continued to hold one end at the crease, he started to run out of partners at the other, with Heinrich Klaasen and George Garton getting out cheaply. While Klaasen struggled to get going and finally lost his wicket by trying to break the shackles, only to be caught at mid-off on the bowling of Saqib Mahmood, Garton was deceived by a slower ball by Sam Curran and saw his middle stump being uprooted. The Originals were suddenly in a tricky position, being 92/5 after 75 balls. The situation went from bad to worse as Rashid returned in his final over and struck twice. The 26-year-old wrist spinner, after cleaning up Lewis Gregory, got the important breakthrough of Salt, who was looking good on a score of 41 off 32 deliveries. Though Scott Currie’s cameo of 21 off 9 might have given some respite to the team in the end, they were unfortunately bundled out for a below-par score of 128.