*THE HUNDRED MENS COMPETITION- LONDON SPIRIT VS NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERS MATCH 24 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
Northern Superchargers have had an up and down season and go into this encounter with two wins and two losses to their name, as well as a rainoff. Superchargers were heavily beaten by Manchester Originals in their most recent outing, failing to chase down a mammoth 182 in 90 balls - and ending up 40 runs short.
On the other hand, London Spirit have only won once in 2023. They've lost twice and seen two games washed out. Their most recent fixture, against Oval Invincibles, ended in a two-run defeat in a dramatic finish at The Oval.
The Lord’s in London has traditionally been helpful to batters. This track is going to offer some assistance to the bowlers, and pacers might enjoy a good amount of seam and swing here. Batters need to remain careful while playing their shots. Once they get their eye in, we could see some fait amount of fireworks.
*LONDON SPIRITS PROBABLE XI:*
Zak Crawley, Adam Rossington, Michael Pepper, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Wade, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Critchley, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood, Nathan Ellis, Dan Worrall
With the ball, Dan Worrall is among the most miserly bowlers in this year's competition. His 85 deliveries have gone at an excellent economy rate of 111 runs per 100 balls. He has been quietly performing his job with satisfaction with Nathan Ellis getting the limelight often in the backdrop. His ability to contain the run scoring should be looked forward to even later today.
With the bat, Dan Lawrence has the highest score of the men's competition in 2023 (93 against Trent Rockets). His 141 runs overall have come at a strike rate of 181. Adam Rossington (101 from three innings at a strike rate of 184) is the only other Spirit batsman to break the 100-run barrier. I expect Crawley to become a member of this elite list soon with the English opener expected to get his Ashes form into act again. Watch out for these three batters who’d look to get the Superchargers under the pump.
*NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERS PROBABLE XI:*
Tom Banton, Matt Short, Harry Brook, Adam Hose, Saif Zaib, David Wiese, Brydon Carse, Wayne Parnell, Adil Rashid, Callum Parkinson, Reece Topley
If the Superchargers, with their rather brittle middle order looking side, manages to arrest the collapse and make sure that the momemtum of the innings keeps going forward, then we can expect the Superchargers to come up with a competitive total of sorts where they feel safe as a batting unit.
Their pacers with their skillset of hitting the deck hard and extracting seam could be closely looked at. Brydon Carse is knock for seam movement and bounce and if batters fail to read him here, the pacer can have a day to remember. The enforcer Rashid amidst this pace drama can be a huge plus point as well.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR LONDON:*
Highest run getter- Zak Crawley/Dan Lawrence
Highest wicket taker- Nathan Ellis/Dan Worrall
*FOR SUPERCHARGERS:*
Highest run getter- Tom Banton/Harry Brook
Highest wicket taker- Adil Rashid/Brydon Carse
*FOR THIS GAME:*
Spirits to win