On Saturday (August 23), Kane Williamson scored his maiden half-century in The Hundred, overcoming a quiet start to his campaign.
Williamson finally gets going
Williamson became the first direct overseas signing in the men’s Hundred after being picked by the London Spirit ahead of this year’s competition. He had a poor start to the competition, managing just 130 runs across six innings at an average of 21.66. His strike rate of 117.11 also came under scrutiny. The Spirit at that point had won just two games, denting their play-off hopes. However, a resurgent knock from Williamson on Saturday helped his team stay afloat, albeit with slim chances.
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Against Southern Brave at Lord's, the Spirit got a solid 66-run opening stand from 36 balls between Jamie Smith and David Warner, with the latter becoming the first to fall for 25 off 20. Smith was the aggressor, as he struck 44 off 18 before being dismissed with the hosts' score at 71-2. Williamson took charge of the innings from there on.
As has been the case this season, Williamson started slowly, reaching 10 off his first nine balls. With Michael Bracewell returning to bowl another set, he dispatched the second delivery over mid-wicket to hit his first six of the innings. Then Williamson teed off, playing some delectable strokes against Jofra Archer.
Kane.
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 23, 2025
Williamson.
🤩#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/IlAILQgZ6L
The most eye-catching of the lot was the lofted shot he played over backward point on the 84th ball of the Spirit's innings. Archer, attempting a wide yorker, missed his mark, and Williamson got down on one knee, opened the face of the bat, and creamed it over the ropes. He made a 28-ball 53 with four fours and three sixes, with Archer eventually dismissing him.
The Spirit made 186-4. Craig Overton (0-43) leaked the most runs for Brave. Archer (1-42) too had a bad day at the office, recording his second-most expensive figures in the tournament, just behind his worst of 1-44 against Welsh Fire last year.
The Spirit comfortably won the match by 47 runs after Liam Dawson (3-23) and Richard Gleeson (3-30) ran through the Brave's batting order.
Match 26, London Spirit vs Southern Brave
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Spirit and Brave’s knockout hopes hanging by a thread
The result was good news for Northern Superchargers, as they qualified for the knockout stages after the Oval Invincibles.
Third-placed Trent Rockets are the favourites to lock in the third and final qualification spot with just one win needed from their remaining two matches.
The Spirit, placed fifth, have now won three of seven, the same as the Brave, who are in fourth due to their superior net run-rate. For them to qualify from here on, they need the Rockets to lose their remaining matches and win their own last fixture. EVen then, they'll have to depend on net run rate for qualification.
