Oval Invincibles Dominate London Spirit With a Six-Wicket Win

London Spirit (Men) were put in to bat after losing the toss and managed to put up a fighting total of 152/7 in their 100 balls against Oval Invincibles (Men) at The Oval. But it was Oval Invincibles who managed to get a six-wicket win over the London Spirits.

London Spirits Innings

The innings got off to a blazing start, thanks to Jamie Smith, who came out swinging against the Invincibles’ bowlers. Smith hammered 28 runs in just 15 balls, peppering the boundary with four fours and launching a massive six to set an attacking tone. His aggressive knock was cut short on the 20th ball when Tom Curran got him to edge one, and Jordan Cox snapped up the catch, breaking the opening stand at 35. David Warner, the veteran Australian opener, chipped in with a quick 10 off 8 balls, stroking two elegant fours, but he too fell early, caught behind by Sam Billings off Jason Behrendorff’s bowling. This left Spirit at 39/2 after 23 balls, with the early momentum slightly dented.

Ollie Pope, coming in at number three, found it tough to settle in. He scratched around for 2 runs off 5 balls before Sam Curran got the better of him, inducing a loose shot that Will Jacks caught, leaving Spirit at 49/3 by the 34th ball. The powerplay (balls 1–25) brought 43 runs but cost two big wickets, piling pressure on the middle order to steady the ship. Kane Williamson, the Spirit skipper, took on the task of anchoring the innings. His measured 21 off 18 balls, with a couple of well-placed fours, offered some calm, but Nathan Sowter ended his stay, getting him caught by Billings at 74/4 after 60 balls.

Ashton Turner joined Williamson to try and rebuild, but his 19 off 19 balls, which included a four and a six, was a slow grind. Sowter struck again, and Donovan Ferreira held on to a sharp catch, leaving Spirit in trouble at 88/5 after 69 balls. The middle overs were tough, but Jamie Overton and Ryan Higgins turned things around with some aggressive batting. Overton smashed 31 off 18 balls, clubbing two fours and two sixes, while Higgins raced to 28 off 15 balls, with four boundaries and a six. Their 54-run stand for the sixth wicket in just 28 balls was a game-changer, pushing Spirit past 100 by the 74th ball.

Flick of the wrist 💫

Jamie Smith scores the first six of the men's match 🌟#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/0HpV5M10Wz

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 25, 2025

The Invincibles’ bowlers, though, clamped down in the final overs. Tom Curran got Overton caught by Cox on the 97th ball, with the score at 142/6. Higgins was run out on the 99th ball after some quick thinking by Billings and Curran, leaving Spirit at 147/7. Liam Dawson, unbeaten on 5 off 2 balls with a boundary, and Luke Wood, who didn’t face a ball, took Spirit to 152/7. The innings included 8 extras (3 leg byes, 5 wides), and despite a slow over-rate penalty that forced an extra fielder inside the circle for the last seven balls, Spirit reached 152 on the final ball. Sam Curran (1/30) and Jason Behrendorff (1/30) picked up one wicket each, but Saqib Mahmood had a tough day, leaking 39 runs in 20 balls without a wicket. The bowlers kept things tight with 36 dot balls, holding Spirit to a run rate of 1.52 runs per ball.

Oval Invincibles (Men) Innings

Chasing 153, Oval Invincibles (Men) put on a masterclass, reaching 153/4 in just 78 balls to clinch a six-wicket win. The chase hit a snag early when Tawanda Muyeye was bowled by Richard Gleeson for a duck on the 6th ball, leaving them at 5/1. But Will Jacks, who later earned Player of the Match, took the game on with his explosive hits. His explosive 45 off 27 balls, packed with four fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 166.66, set the chase on fire. Jacks, alongside Jordan Cox, put on a crucial 64-run stand for the second wicket in just 35 balls, getting the Invincibles back on track. The powerplay from balls 1-25 produced 45 runs for the loss of Muyeye, laying a strong foundation.

Jacks’ blistering knock ended in the 41st ball, caught by Ollie Pope off Liam Dawson, with the score at 69/2. Cox, though, kept the pressure on, stroking a smooth 47 off 27 balls, with five fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 174.07. He teamed up with Sam Curran, who smashed 27 off 13 balls with two fours and two sixes, adding 45 runs in 22 balls to push the Invincibles past 100 in 59 balls. Cox fell in the 68th ball, bowled by Jamie Overton, with the score at 127/4, but the finish line was in sight.

Sam Curran’s rapid 27, at a strike rate of 207.69, ended when Dawson got him caught by Gleeson in the 63rd ball. Donovan Ferreira, unbeaten on 24 off 9 balls with two fours and two sixes at a scorching strike rate of 266.66, and Sam Billings, unbeaten on 2 off 2 balls, wrapped things up comfortably. The Invincibles hit 150 in 79 balls, finishing the chase with 22 balls to spare. The innings included 8 extras (1 bye, 2 leg byes, 3 wides, 2 no-balls), helping them reach 153/4 at 1.96 runs per ball.

Spirit’s bowlers couldn’t find their rhythm. Liam Dawson was the best of the lot, taking 2/30 in 18 balls, dismissing Jacks and Curran. Jamie Overton (1/35) and Richard Gleeson (1/21) got one wicket each, but Luke Wood (0/29), Jafer Chohan (0/27), and Ryan Higgins (0/8) were costly and went wicketless. They managed 24 dot balls but couldn’t keep the Invincibles’ batsmen in check, who played with freedom and flair. Jacks and Cox set the tone, and Ferreira’s late fireworks ensured a smooth victory, showcasing the Invincibles’ batting strength as they marched toward a final berth.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Oval Invincibles (Men) chased down 153 in just 78 balls, overpowering London Spirit (Men) with a commanding batting display. The TCNI’s Magic Moment belonged to Will Jacks, who lit up the chase with a scintillating 45 off 27 balls. His knock, studded with four boundaries and three massive sixes at a strike rate of 166.66, gave the Invincibles a flying start. Jacks, alongside Jordan Cox (47 off 27), put on a 64-run stand in 35 balls, keeping the chase on course.

Though Jacks fell in the 41st ball, caught by Pope off Dawson, his aggressive intent set the stage. Sam Curran’s quick 27 off 13 and Donovan Ferreira’s unbeaten 24 off 9, with a strike rate of 266.66, finished the job in style. Despite Liam Dawson’s 2/30, the Invincibles’ batting depth, with Billings (not out 2) chipping in, proved too much, securing a six-wicket win with 22 balls left.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Nathan Sowter stood out as the game’s biggest star, earning the TCNI Hero of the Day for his brilliant bowling against the London Spirit (Men). Bowling 20 balls with pinpoint accuracy, Sowter gave away just 23 runs at an outstanding 1.15 runs per ball, one of the tightest spells of the match. He bowled 9 dot balls, choking Spirit’s scoring at key moments.

His two crucial wickets of Kane Williamson (21) and Ashton Turner (19) were massive blows, with Williamson caught behind and Turner nabbed by Ferreira, leaving Spirit at 88/5 after 69 balls. Sowter’s mix of control and wicket-taking ability was instrumental in keeping Spirit to 152/7, paving the way for the Invincibles’ dominant chase.