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Originals’ coach Simon Katich raised questions over Hundred Final scheduling


image-l7n6hff6Trent Rockets celebration after defeating Manchester Originals in The Hundred Final (PC: Twitter)

Manchester Originals’ coach Simon Katich has expressed his disappointment on The Hundred finals scheduling after his side's defeat against the Rockets in The Hundred Final.

The Originals’ had a tough start of the tournament, having lost their first three games in the league stage. Following that, they made a tremendous comeback and won their remaining five games to finish second in the points table. They further defeated Eoin Morgan’s London Spirit in the Eliminator and qualified for their maiden Hundred final.

Unfortunately, Laurie Evans and his men could not cross the finishing line as they were beaten by Trent Rockets by 2 wickets in the Final.


Katich reflected on the reason behind his team’s poor batting show in the final

Following the win over the London Spirit in the Eliminator on Friday, the Originals had to travel immediately from Southampton to London to play the final at Lord's within the next few hours. 

"Tonight, it just looked like we were a little bit tired. And that was totally understandable given we had a great win last night at the Rose Bowl and then backed up again tonight,” Katich said after Rockets defeated Originals in the Hundred Final.

image-l7n6jl32Samit Patel celebrating the wicket of Ashton Turner in The Hundred Final. PC: Twitter

The former Australian cricketer believes that the organizers really need to look at the scheduling of the Hundred final as the coach felt it made an impact in his team’s poor batting display in the final. The Originals posted a paltry 120 for 9 on the board after electing to bat first.

"It's not an excuse, but our boys just looked tired tonight, particularly with the bat. We didn't string partnerships together and we've done that really well all tournament,” the 47-year-old added.

"I don't think there's any other competition in the world where the two biggest games of the tournament are played within 24-hours at different venues," Katich further added.


Katich praised his side’s fighting till the end

Despite a poor show with the bat, the Originals did came back with the ball, defending the total of 120 and kept Rockets on the backfoot until their captain Gregory late heroics with the bat snatched the victory at the end.

“Credit to our boys, I thought they were magnificent in what they were able to do, even with that. We gave ourselves a chance to win it. Don't get me wrong, this is a great competition. But the scheduling is something that probably has to be looked at,"  Katich concluded.