The Hundred: Oval Invincibles beat Southern Brave to retain title
What's the story
The Oval Invincibles have successfully defended their title in The Hundred men's competition, marking a second consecutive victory. They triumphed over the Southern Brave by 17 runs in a thrilling final at Lord's on August 18. Despite a strong start from the Brave, their pursuit of 148 runs faltered as they collapsed from 58-0 to 102-7, allowing the Invincibles to seize control of the match.
Summary
How did the game pan out?
The Invincibles managed 147/9 while batting first. Will Jacks scored a fiery 37 at the top while Sam Curran and Jordan Cox scored 25 apiece. Tom Curran chipped in with a quickfire 24 off 11 deliveries. Akeal Hosein (3/34) and Tymal Mills (3/33) jolted the Invincibles, who were placed at 93/2 at one stage. In reply, openers Alex Davies (35) and James Vince (24) added 58 runs before the Invincibles bowlers ignited a collapse. They were hence restricted to 130/7.
Match-turning performances
Zampa and Mahmood's bowling prowess turn the tide
The Invincibles's victory was marked by standout performances from their bowlers. Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2/26) made the initial breakthrough for the team, while fast bowler Saqib Mahmood (3/17) dismantled Brave's middle order with three wickets in seven balls. With 19 wickets at 11.57, Zampa finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker of the season alongside Mills. Mahmood claimed seven wickets in the season at 15.57.
All-rounder's impact
Jacks' all-round performance
Will Jacks, another key player for the Invincibles, dismissed Brave skipper James Vince, who finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer. This wicket bolstered his earlier contribution of 37 runs from just 22 balls. Overall, Jacks finished with 156 runs at a strike rate of 148.57 this year. The tally also includes eight wickets at 12.62. Meanwhile, Vince finished with 424 runs this year at 53.
Brave's standout performers
Mills, Hosein shine for Brave
In a losing cause, Tymal Mills emerged as the standout player for the Brave. The left-arm seamer took three wickets for 33 runs, demonstrating his bowling prowess. He averaged 15.10 this year, having scalped 19 wickets. Meanwhile, his partner-in-crime Hosein finished the competition with 12 wickets at 20.66. The West Indies star also contributed with 92 runs at 18.40.