Oval Invincibles Overpower Rockets with Curran and Cox Brilliance

The Oval was electric on the evening of August 21, 2025, as 22,498 fans packed the stands for a blockbuster clash in The Hundred’s 100-ball format. The Trent Rockets, batting first after the Oval Invincibles won the toss and chose to field, were determined to set a daunting target. With a pitch that looked like a batsman’s paradise, the Rockets, led by the classy Joe Root.

Trent Rockets Innings

Tom Banton and Joe Root opened the batting for the Rockets, stepping onto the field with a plan to build a solid foundation. Banton played with restraint, scratching out 9 runs off 11 balls, including a single crisp boundary, before Rashid Khan’s guile got the better of him. On the 28th ball, Khan trapped him lbw, and though the Invincibles sent the decision to the third umpire, the call stood, leaving the Rockets at 55/1. Root, however, was in a different league. The former England captain was all grace and aggression, racing to a fifty in just 24 balls, his bat flashing as he smashed 9 fours and a soaring six. By the end of the powerplay after 25 balls, the Rockets were flying at 55/0, the crowd roaring as Root set the tone.

Rehan Ahmed strode in after Banton’s departure, bringing energy to the crease. His 28 off 23 balls, laced with three fours and a six, kept the scoreboard ticking. He and Root added 48 runs for the second wicket, pushing the Rockets past 100 by the 60th ball. Ahmed’s cameo ended when he lobbed a return catch to Nathan Sowter, leaving the score at 103/2. Tom Moores, the wicketkeeper, came in next but couldn’t find his rhythm, scratching out 4 runs off 4 balls before being caught off Jason Behrendorff’s bowling. Root, unfazed by the wickets falling, kept the innings on track with a sublime 76 off 41 balls, including 11 fours and a six. His knock was a masterclass, but Rashid Khan struck again, bowling him on the 80th ball to leave the Rockets at 125/4.

The middle order wobbled as the Invincibles’ bowlers tightened their grip. Rashid Khan was the star, finishing with 2 for 19 in his 20 balls, his economy rate a stingy 0.95 runs per ball. David Willey, the Rockets’ captain, tried to inject some life with a quick 7 off 3 balls, including a towering six, but Tom Curran had him caught by Donovan Ferreira. Marcus Stoinis chipped in with a useful 12 off 10 balls, cracking a six, but a sloppy run-out on the 99th ball cut his innings short, adding drama to the final overs.

George Linde, however, turned the tide with a breathtaking 25 off 8 balls, smashing a four and three sixes. His late blitz pushed the Rockets to 150 by the 93rd ball, giving their total a vital lift. Sam Hain (1 not out) and Max Holden (0 not out) were at the crease as the innings closed at 171/7, with 9 extras (4 leg byes, 2 no-balls, and 3 wides) padding the score.

The Invincibles’ bowlers shared the wickets, with Tom Curran leading the way at 2 for 37, while Behrendorff, Sowter, and Rashid Khan grabbed one each. Root’s commanding 76 and Linde’s late heroics made the total competitive, but the loss of wickets at key moments kept the Rockets from reaching the 180-mark. The stage was set for a cracking chase, with the Invincibles needing 172 runs in 100 balls to steal the win.

Oval Invincibles Innings

The Oval Invincibles launched their chase with fire in their bellies, knowing their deep batting lineup could handle the 1.72 runs-per-ball target. Openers Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye came out swinging, eager to dominate the powerplay. Muyeye was in fine touch, cracking 20 off 13 balls with three boundaries, but David Willey cut his innings short, taking a sharp caught-and-bowled on the 25th ball. The Invincibles ended the powerplay at 33/1, with Jacks struggling to find his groove. He managed just 9 off 15 balls before being caught off Rehan Ahmed’s bowling, leaving the score at 38/2 after 34 balls.

The game’s defining moment came when Jordan Cox and Sam Curran joined forces at the crease. Their partnership was a game-changer, blending Cox’s composure with Curran’s raw power. Cox played the anchor, pacing his innings with precision, while Curran unleashed a jaw-dropping 54 off 24 balls, including two fours and six massive sixes. His fifty, reached in just 22 balls, left the Rockets’ bowlers shell-shocked. The duo plundered 96 runs for the third wicket in just 42 balls, with Cox holding one end and Curran tearing into the attack. By the 66th ball, the Invincibles had surged past 100, helped by 12 extras (5 leg byes, 2 no-balls, and 5 wides).

Cox reached his fifty off 30 balls, stroking three fours and four sixes, and kept his cool as the finish line loomed. Curran’s fireworks ended when he was caught off Rehan Ahmed on the 76th ball, with the score at 134/3. Donovan Ferreira kept the momentum going, smashing 14 off 5 balls with two sixes, before falling to Ben Sanderson on the 86th ball. With 164/4 on the board, the Invincibles needed just 8 runs off the final 14 balls. Cox, unbeaten on 58 off 32 balls, and captain Sam Billings (1 not out) steered their team home with ease, reaching 173/4 in 89 balls. The Invincibles clinched a 6-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare, their batting depth shining through.

The Rockets’ bowlers fought hard but couldn’t contain the Invincibles’ onslaught. Rehan Ahmed was the pick, taking 2 for 25 in his 20 balls, while Willey and Sanderson grabbed one wicket each. The Cox-Curran stand proved too much, and 17 extras didn’t help. Sam Curran’s explosive 54 earned him the Player of the Match award, his brutal hitting turning the game in the Invincibles’ favor. The win propelled the Invincibles to the top of the table with 20 points and a net run rate of 2.158, while the Rockets, despite Root’s brilliance, stayed second with 16 points.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

In a match bursting with drama, Sam Curran delivered the TCNI Magic Moment for the Oval Invincibles. Batting at number four, he smashed a sensational 54 off 24 balls, with a strike rate of 225.00, lighting up The Oval with two fours and six towering sixes. Coming in after Tawanda Muyeye (20 off 13) and Will Jacks (9 off 15) fell early, Curran’s 96-run stand with Jordan Cox, who finished unbeaten on 58, was the game’s turning point.

Their partnership, built in just 42 balls, powered the Invincibles to 173/4, chasing down 172 with 11 balls to spare. Curran’s fearless assault, especially against Rehan Ahmed, who eventually got him, was electric. Caught by Sam Cook on the 76th ball, Curran’s knock was the spark that ignited the chase.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Joe Root was the TCNI Hero of the Day for the Trent Rockets, shining like a beacon despite the loss. The former England captain played a sublime 76 off 41 balls, with a strike rate of 185.36, featuring 11 fours and a six. His innings was the heart of the Rockets’ 171/7, blending elegance with aggression.

After Tom Banton’s early exit, Root steadied the innings and then took charge, forming a key 48-run stand with Rehan Ahmed. His dominance lasted until Rashid Khan bowled him on the 80th ball, ending a 56-minute masterclass. Despite wickets tumbling, Root’s composure kept the Rockets in the fight, making him the standout performer in a thrilling contest.