Super Giants triumph at Lord's despite Livingstone's all-round show

Manchester Super Giants beat London Spirit at Lord's in the Hundred opener, even though Livingstone starred with both bat and ball for Spirit. Livingstone's effort All-round performance from Livingstone — contributed with bat and ball — but couldn't get Spirit over the line. The Giants' bowling attack kept Spirit to a low total, then the batters chased it down comfortably at Lord's. Context It was the first game of the campaign for both sides. Super Giants start with 2 points, while Spirit are left to rue missed chances despite Livingstone’s efforts. An inspired bowling performance from Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker propelled Manchester Super Giants to a stirring victory against London Spirit as a Lord's crowd of 23,847 witnessed the first classic of The Hundred 2026 men's competition. The England pace pair shared two wickets apiece but it was as much a test of nerve to hold a thrilling Spirit run-chase at bay, taking control of the final 10 deliveries to defy Liam Livingstone and get their team over the line. It could have gone either way. With 56 wanted from 30 balls the game was in the balance. Livingstone and the classy South African Dewald Brevis had been cautiously rebuilding after three wickets had fallen inside the first 46 balls. London Spirit captain Livingstone nearly pulled off a heist, but Super Giants held their nerve in the last over to win at Lord's. Livingstone’s fightback Took 12 off Noor Ahmad’s last 5 balls, including a leg-side sweep six — his 3rd of the innings Hit another trademark slog sweep to reach 50 off 32 balls A slapped four through extra cover looked like it was swinging momentum to Spirit The pressure overs 10 balls left, Spirit needed 21 Atkinson bowled a clutch set of 5, including the wicket of Brevis caught-and-bowled 5 balls left, Spirit needed 12. Baker given the ball to close it out. A single and a scampered two put pressure on, but with Livingstone on strike, Baker went full and fast and clattered into his stumps to end it. Earlier in the piece, Super Giants' opener Tim Seifert got his career in The Hundred off to an electric start, clubbing 67 from 45 balls to hold the innings together after a sluggish start. Seifert was the key figure in steering the visitors to 105 for 2 after 67 balls, before a dramatic collapse saw them lose seven wickets to splutter up to 138 for 9. Central to the strangle was Livingstone, who bowled 20 of the final 25 deliveries and took two wickets for just 14 runs. The new skipper carried on with the bat, striking five leg-side sixes in his 40-ball 69, but ultimately it was the Super Giants, and their English cohort of pacemen, who triumphed. "We bowled some really good stuff through the middle, dragged it back towards the end, and we nearly chased it down. The stats don't tend to favour chasing here at Lord's, so it's a good start and something we can build on." Manchester Super Giants 138 for 9 (Seifert 67, Livingstone 2-14) beat London Spirit 131 for 6 (Livingstone 69, Atkinson 2-15)