NS vs MO, Preview | Northern Superchargers eye maiden final spot in Northern derby

The league stage is just days away from ending, and there are still some iconic games to be played in the Hundred, with one of them taking place between Northern Superchargers and Manchester Originals.  This is set to be the second Northern derby encounter of the season, featuring two teams who are considered one of the biggest rivals in the tournament. The last derby game between the two teams was dominated by the Originals, who won the game at Old Trafford by a big margin of 57 runs. However, it is the Chargers who have ended up being one of the favorites in the tournament and have secured a place in the playoffs, while the Manchester franchise will be playing their last game of the season on Tuesday. However, there is still a lot at stake for both teams in the game

The Superchargers might have finally made it into the playoffs for the first time, but a win in this game could give them a direct spot in the final of the 2025 edition.  They will also be looking to avenge their loss at Old Trafford, which is also their biggest defeat in the tournament.  The Northeners have thrived under the leadership of  Harry Brook and are standing at the number three spot with 20 points, tying with the other two qualified teams in Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets. The top run scorer for the franchise is Zak Crawley with 263 runs to his name and Matthew Potts is their highest wicket taker with nine wickets

The Originals, on the other hand, have had another poor season, having won two and lost five games this season. Though there have been some iconic performances from some of their players, with Josh Tongue still leading the wickets column this year with 12 wickets, and their two senior batters in Jos Buttler and Philip Salt playing some great knocks, they are still struggling at the bottom of the barrel. While their season might be over, this will still be an important game that could determine if they will finish as wooden spoon holders or not.

Form Guide

The Northerners have had their best season this year, and their recent form has been incredible, winning four of their last five games in the tournament.

The same cannot be said about the Originals, who have had another poor season and have won only two out of their last five matches. 

Northern Superchargers:  W W L W W

Manchester Originals:  L L W L W

Northern Superchargers vs Manchester Originals Head-to-Head in The Hundred

The head-to-head battle in the tournament between the Superchargers and the Originals have been neck-to-neck, with both teams winning four games each in the eight matches they have played against each other.

Northern Superchargers 4 - 4 Manchester Originals

Pitch and Weather

The surface at Headingley has been a batting-friendly track this season, with the highest score at the venue being 198 in the three games that have been played in the tournament. While there might be some assistance for the pace bowlers, it is better to bat first on this wicket and set a big total on the board, as the team defending a score has won most of the games on this ground in the last two seasons.

The expected temperature at Leeds is between 19-21 degrees, and there is a slight threat of rain which could affect the game.

Team News

Northern Superchargers are not expected to make any changes to their team in the upcoming game.

The Manchester Originals, on the other hand, might make two changes in their team by bringing Mark Chapman and Farhan Ahmed in place of Matty Hurst and Ish Sodhi due to the underwhelming performances from the two players.

Northern Superchargers Probable XI: Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Michael-Kyle Pepper(wk), Harry Brook(c), Dan Lawrence, David Miller, Samit Patel, Tom Lawes, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Jacob Duffy.

Manchester Originals Probable XI: Philip Salt(c), Ben McKinney, Jos Buttler(wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Tom Hartley, Scott Currie, Farhan Ahmed, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker.  

Broadcasting Platforms

The 30th game of the Hundred between the Northern Superchargers and Manchester Originals will be digitally streamed on the Sonyliv/Fancode app and website. The fans can also catch the action on TV through the Sony Sports network