Sam Billings was glad to end a frustrating few weeks on the sidelines with a decisive innings as his Oval Invincibles side beat the Manchester Originals in the inaugural men’s game of English cricket’s new Hundred competition on Thursday. 

The England batsman made 49 in a total of 145-8 that propelled the hosts to a nine-run win over the Originals at the Oval. Victory completed an Invincibles’ double over the Originals after the club’s women’s teams had launched the Hundred at the Oval on Wednesday in a dramatic match that ended with the hosts winning by five runs with two balls to spare.