Manchester Super Giants thrashed London Spirit by seven wickets on July 23, 2026, at Lord’s. Ryana MacDonald-Gay took 4-17 to bowl the hosts out for 80 runs, before the Super Giants chased the target in just 59 balls to open The Hundred women’s competition in dominant fashion.
The Manchester Super Giants put on a bowling clinic at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday, July 23, 2026, dismantling the London Spirit for just 80 runs. Playing their first match under their new banner after spending five years as the Manchester Originals, the visiting side needed a mere 40 minutes to surpass the meager target and secure a seven-wicket victory.
MacDonald-Gay and Super Giants Attack Dismantle Spirit Lineup
Sent in to bat first on their home turf, London Spirit found themselves in immediate trouble. Openers Grace Harris and Amy Jones fell inside the first eight deliveries, dismissed for four runs and a golden duck respectively by Grace Ballinger and Maitlan Brown. Wickets continued to tumble in rapid clusters.
Player-of-the-match Ryana MacDonald-Gay tore through the middle order, finishing her spell with figures of 4-17. She removed Marie Kelly via a catch to Paige Scholfield at cover, before combining with captain Meg Lanning to snare South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who managed a top score of 17 runs off 12 balls. England’s vice-captain Charlie Dean reached 14 before being run out, while Deandra Dottin fell for four after being bowled by Sophie Ecclestone. The home innings collapsed entirely in 91 balls when MacDonald-Gay forced Katie George to edge behind to Richa Ghosh.
Ecclestone praised the execution of the bowling unit after the match, noting that the pitch provided early assistance with variable bounce and spin.
“The bowlers at the top really set up the game for us, taking the early wickets and I felt coming in and sticking to my plan worked really well. We stuck to our plan and we nailed the basics and we did it really well. I felt in pretty good rhythm. Pretty confident.”
Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Player of the Match, via Sky Sports
Swift Chase Secures Top Spot on Net Run-Rate
Carrying the momentum from their bowling display, the Super Giants wasted no time in the chase. Opener Smriti Mandhana and captain Meg Lanning constructed a steady 33-run partnership before Mandhana was trapped lbw by Marizanne Kapp for 17 runs. Kapp struck again on the very next delivery, bowling Grace Scrivens for a golden duck, though Paige Scholfield successfully defended the hat-trick ball.
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Lanning contributed 21 runs before being caught off Hannah Rainey. Any lingering hopes of a miraculous comeback were quickly extinguished by Richa Ghosh (15 not out off five balls) and Paige Scholfield (22 not out off 15 deliveries). Scholfield clinched the contest in style by hitting back-to-back boundaries—a four followed by a six—propelling the Manchester Super Giants straight to the summit of the table on net run-rate.
Tinie Tempah Set to Headline Lord’s Entertainment
The sporting action at Lord’s forms part of a broader matchday spectacle. London-based rapper Tinie Tempah is slated to perform a live set featuring his hit tracks between the women’s and men’s fixtures at Lord’s, marking the opening home match for London Spirit under their new ownership structure involving the MCC and the Tech Titans.
The booking pairs the venue’s traditional cricket atmosphere with mainstream entertainment, backed by Principal Partner Barclays.
“This is an incredible booking for London Spirit and Barclays. Tinie Tempah is London born and bred, and I know he’ll deliver a stellar performance to mark the start of an exciting new era for London Spirit. I would say it’s Written In The Stars…!”
Katie Maier, Chief Marketing Officer, MCC & London Spirit, via Lord’s
Rebranded Squads and Tournament Context
Sources: bbc.co.uk.
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