Liam Livingstone smashed 69 off 40 balls for London Spirit, but it was not enough. Manchester Super Giants held on to win the opening match of The Hundred 2026 for Spirit, who fell short chasing 139 at Lord's on 23 July.

Spirit won the toss and chose to field — sending the opposition in to bat first, a common Tactic when a captain fancies a chase under lights. The day/night fixture, the third match of the men's competition this season, was played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, Spirit's home venue. Super Giants posted 138, giving Spirit a target of 139 to win BBC Sport.

Livingstone made the chase his own for as long as he was there. His 69 came off just 40 deliveries — striking at better than a run and a half per ball in a format where every delivery is precious. The Hundred, for the uninitiated, gives each side 100 balls per innings rather than a fixed number of six-ball overs, which compresses the chase into a fast, relentless countdown.

With three balls remaining, Livingstone was bowled. That wicket — and the tight margin it exposed — swung the finish. Baker, bowling for Super Giants, secured the victory by defending what was left of the target BBC Sport.

For Spirit, the sting is in how close they came. A knock of 69 in a 139-run chase is the kind of innings that usually finishes the job. Instead, the last few balls told a different story, and Spirit began their 2026 campaign with a narrow home defeat.

Manchester Super Giants, who play their home games at Emirates Old Trafford, are the rebranded Manchester franchise — formerly known as Manchester Originals, as listed on the team's official results page. Spirit's next home fixture at Lord's is against Southern Brave on 1 August, giving them a quick chance to bounce back on familiar turf.