London Spirit launched their new era with double defeat at Lord’s, and though they may have new owners, new coaches and new players it seems they’re still getting the same results. For the fifth time in their six-year history the men started their season with defeat, losing by seven runs a game of the Hundred that Liam Livingstone came very close to turning into The One.
The Spirit captain took responsibility for 20 of the last 25 balls of Manchester Super Giants’ innings, shouldering what should have been the hardest part of the bowling burden, and finished with two wickets for just 14. Then, with his team flailing in pursuit of 139, he scored 69 off 40 to keep them in the contest until the moment he swung at its antepenultimate delivery and was bowled by Sonny Baker.
