Oval Invincibles Final Spot in Limbo After Loss to Rockets

Oval Invincibles missed their chance to secure a place in the final of the men’s Hundred competition after Trent Rockets defeated them by six wickets at Trent Bridge. Despite setting a competitive target of 151 with Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 53, the Invincibles couldn’t stop the Rockets. Tom Alsop (41) and Rovman Powell (45) led a strong chase for the Rockets, winning with six balls to spare.

The Oval Invincibles, who had already qualified for the knockout phase, now await the result of Thursday’s final group game to determine if they will advance directly to the final at Lord’s on Sunday. The visitors started well by reaching 47-0 before Will Jacks fell to Lewis Gregory. Malan formed a crucial 71-run partnership with Ollie Cox (39), which ended when Cox got bowled by Sam Cook.

Donovan Ferreira added a quick 27 from 10 balls to close the innings. In response, the Rockets initially struggled, falling to 57-3 at the halfway point. However, Alsop’s consecutive sixes off Adam Zampa and a strong finish from Powell, including a fourth six off Sam Curran, shifted the momentum. Although Curran dismissed Powell, Alsop’s timely boundary secured the victory.

Looking ahead, Birmingham Phoenix will host Manchester Originals on Thursday. A win could propel Phoenix from fourth to first place and secure a direct spot in the final. The Rockets, finishing fifth, cannot advance further. Saqib Mahmood faced challenges, dropping Tom Banton early and seeing his lbw decision overturned before finally dismissing him.

Sam Curran, who had a mixed performance, equaled Adam Zampa as the top wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets. Rockets’ Alex Hales acknowledged their frustrating season, while Invincibles’ Ollie Cox noted the team’s strong performance despite the loss. The final two group-stage matches will take place on Thursday, with Birmingham Phoenix and Manchester Originals facing off.