London, August 14 (HS): Welsh Fire ignited their campaign with a commanding 25‑run victory over Manchester Originals, powered by a blistering display of pace bowling from Riley Meredith, ably supported by Chris Green and David Payne.

Set 138 for victory, the Originals’ chase was derailed almost instantly as Meredith struck twice in three balls, removing Phil Salt with a sharp grab by Green before finding Mark Chapman’s edge to slip. Reduced to 14/3, the visitors relied on skipper Jos Buttler to mount a fightback.

Buttler counterpunched in trademark fashion, reaching a swashbuckling half‑century with back‑to‑back sixes and combining with Lewis Gregory to keep the chase alive. With 35 required from the final 20 deliveries, Buttler’s dismissal to deep mid‑wicket proved the turning point. Green accounted for Gregory soon after, before Payne’s incisive burst ripped through the tail. Meredith returned to apply the finishing touch, sealing figures of 4 for 9 as the Originals folded for 112.

Earlier, sent in to bat, Welsh Fire endured a stuttering start with Jonny Bairstow falling cheaply and Steve Smith struggling to break the shackles before succumbing to Josh Tongue’s slower ball. Useful cameos from Tom Kohler‑Cadmore and Tom Abell kept the scoreboard moving, but it was Green’s late flourish — two sixes and a boundary in the closing stages — that lifted the total to 137/8, a target that proved more than enough under the lights.

Scorecard

Welsh Fire: 137/8 (Tom Kohler‑Cadmore 26; Scott Currie 3/21, Josh Tongue 3/25)

Manchester Originals: 112 all out (Jos Buttler 57; Riley Meredith 4/9, David Payne 3/14)

Result: Welsh Fire won by 25 runs.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar