London Spirit 142 for 6 (Rossington 46) beat Manchester Originals 136 for 9 (Ackermann 53, Wheal 4-17) by six runs
Brad Wheal claimed the stunning figures of 4 for 17 to help London Spirit claim their first win in six men's Hundred games and deal a blow to the Manchester Originals in the process.
Hampshire's Scottish fast bowler, a replacement for Mark Wood and making his Hundred debut, helped Spirit defend 143 after Originals slipped from relative comfort at 126 for 4 after 88 balls.
Wheal bowled Phil Salt early in a chase which recovered from 21 for 3 after 16 balls before returning to get key man Colin Ackermann for 53 as Originals slipped to five down. He then defended nine off the last five with the wickets of Calvin Harrison and Fred Klaassen.
While this six-run win is just consolation for Spirit, Originals missed the opportunity to go joint top. Their qualification hopes hang in the balance with two games remaining.
England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan, meanwhile, did not field as a precaution following an unbeaten 22. He sat in the dugout with his left knee iced.
A spin friendly Emirates Old Trafford surface ultimately saw a game watched by a 14,000 strong crowd decided by a seamer in 24-year-old Wheal.
Adam Rossington top-scored with 46 off 29 for Spirit, while Originals spinners Tom Hartley claimed 3 for 27 and Matthew Parkinson 2 for 18. The latter also took a stunning one-handed catch.
Rossington had lofted Parkinson's first ball for a straight six, gaining some revenge for his famous dismissal to the 'new ball of the century' here in an April Championship match whilst playing for Northamptonshire.
But the Rossington-Parkinson connection was not finished, with the latter backpedalling at short third to cling on one-handed, having leapt high to intercept a reverse sweep at Hartley.
Salt clubbed Roelof van der Merwe for three off-side boundaries in the first five balls of the chase, but he was one of the three early wickets.
Mohammad Nabi claimed two of them with his off-spin. The first was Joe Clarke brilliantly caught at wide long-on by Mason Crane before Colin Munro holed out at cover. Wheal then bowled Salt.
But Ackermann engineered the revival with the help of Tom Lammonby - the fourth-wicket pair sharing 66.
Captain Carlos Brathwaite also hit three sixes in a quick-fire 30, but he fell to Blake Cullen in the penultimate set of five following Ackermann's dismissal.
Wheal then bowled Harrison and had Klaassen hit-wicket either side of the run-out of Hartley. Klaassen had needed to hit the final ball for six to tie, only to stand on his stumps
Brad Wheal
Colin Ackermann
Adam Rossington
Carlos Brathwaite
London Spirit (Men)
Manchester Originals (Men)
Spirit vs Originals
The Hundred Men's Competition
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
