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Jos Buttler picks up the ball early from Matthew Potts and audaciously paddles it over the wicketekeeper for a couple of runs.

Next ball, Buttler's powerful hands biff the ball to the boundary for four.

England's superstar batter is up and running now.

Stephan Shemilt
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport chief cricket writer at Old Trafford

I think this all black kit for the Manchester Originals might be my least favourite of The Hundred kits. Northern Superchargers are in purple, which I don't mind.

A good start from David Willey, with the Originals only able to take two runs off the first set.

Matthew Potts - another England quick bowler - is ready to bowl the second over.

Lydia Greenway
Ex-England batter on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Test Match Special

I think this is such a hard ground to defend on. If you look at the games recently in the Vitality Blast, there have been some mammoth totals. I think the average first-innings score is about 190. If you look at both line-ups they have real firepower.

David Willey, who is Jos Buttler's team-mate at international level for England, bowls the first ball for the Superchargers.

Buttler gently prods the ball in front to take a single.

The players of La viola, aka Northern Superchargers, are in a group huddle on the edge of the pitch. Jos Buttler and Phil Salt in their all-back kits are padded up and striding to the middle.

You don't want to miss Buttler batting. This could be special.

Stephan Shemilt
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport chief cricket writer at Old Trafford

For those of you who hadn't already spotted it is Salt and Pepper on opposite sides. Both keeping wicket, Phil Salt for the Originals and Michael Pepper for the Superchargers.

We have been denied the battle of the Parkinson twins. Matt plays for Originals but Callum has been left out by the Superchargers.

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Superchargers captain Faf du Plessis: "I was here just to be around the group and get to know the competition. Dwayne Bravo, myself and David Wiese are our overseas players, Wahab Riaz isn't here yet because he's struggled with his visa.

"We've got Roelof van der Merwe and Adil Rashid, two experienced players, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do on this pitch."

Image source, Getty I

Absent from the Manchester Originals team that night, however, was big-hitting box office Jos Buttler. He'll be skippering the Originals tonight and could be the difference maker.

Buttler said at the toss: "To be available for the whole thing is great. It's such an exciting tournament and I cannot wait to get stuck in, We have talked about enjoying it and putting on a show. It's about inspiring people to pick up a bat and ball."

Image source, Getty Images

Last year these two sides only met once - at Headingley - after the match at Old Trafford was washed out.

In that match the Superchargers racked up an incredible 200-5 - the highest score in both the men's and women's editions of the The Hundred to date.

Wicketkeeeper John Simpson whacked it everywhere that night, walloping 71 from 28 balls. He's missing from their side tonight with Michael Pepper keeping wicket.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester Originals skipper Jos Buttler gives the coin a flick, and his Northern Superchargers counterpart Faf du Plessis calls correctly.

Du Plessis said: "It looks a good wicket but all we just want to grips with the competition, the new rules - it's my first game in the competition so I'm excited to get started."

Buttler added: "We were going to bat first so both teams get what they want to do!"

Biggest rivalries in world sport? Boca Juniors v River Plate, in football maybe. Prost v Senna, in F1 perhaps, Borg v McEnroe in tennis you would think.

Cricket has plenty too, of course. England v Australia, India v Pakistan, Lancashire v Yorkshire...

The Hundred might only be a year old but a Friday night at Old Trafford under the lights as Manchester Originals scrap it out against Northern Superchargers should be feisty, and a lot of fun.

We'll have all the big moments from this evening's clash in our live text commentary. Stick with us for the next few hours.