KNYSNA CRICKET NEWS - Local cricket star Tristan Stubbs has been in fine form in the UK where he is leaving his mark for Manchester Originals, that has risen to third in the standings in this year's The Hundred competition.
The Manchester Originals had a tough start to their 2022 campaign, but a victory over Welsh Fire on 16 August sparked a revival in their fortunes and they won three matches on the trot.
They're now third on the log with six points – two behind second-placed London Spirit and four behind first-placed Trent Rockets.
Stubbs has played an important role in the Originals' campaign this season, with a haul of 89 runs and four wickets from his five games so far. He has ensured that even when he hasn't fired with bat in hand, he contributed with the ball - be it in the form of wickets or economical sets - and in the field.
In his debut for the Originals against London Spirit, Stubbs showed great presence of mind to take a catch on the boundary before chucking it back to Tom Hartley (who held on to dismiss Jordan Thompson) as Stubbs was falling over the boundary rope.
In his next game Stubbs blitzed his way to 27 off 10 balls against Trent Rockets, an innings which included four consecutive sixes against fellow countryman Tabraiz Shamsi.
His third game, against Welsh Fire, yielded two wickets for only six runs off 10 balls, a fine spell with the ball. He scored 13 runs with bat in hand and took a catch to help dismiss Dwaine Pretorius as the Manchester Originals began their three-match winning streak.
Up next was Southern Brave, where Stubbs didn't have much chance to show his batting prowess, as he strode to the crease at the tail end of the innings with the aim of handing the strike to André Russell, who was firing on all cylinders. Nonetheless, Stubbs was great with the ball again and took two more wickets for only 12 runs in 10 balls.
The most recent game was against Northern Superchargers on Sunday 21 August, and Stubbs' dormant batting abilities donned their Sunday best to put on a show for the crowd at Headingley.
He was promoted up the order to number three, a decision that paid off as he powered his way to 46 off only 23 balls to help steer the Manchester Originals to 208-5 – the highest-ever team total in The Hundred. Stubbs didn't take any wickets this time around, but still held onto a catch to dismiss Harry Brooks.
Stubbs and the Manchester Originals' next game will be against Birmingham Phoenix on Sunday 28 August.
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