Oval Invincibles Triumph Again in The Hundred Final

Oval Invincibles secured their second consecutive Hundred title with a commanding 17-run victory over Southern Brave in the final at Lord’s. After setting a target of 148, Brave faltered from a solid start of 58-0 to collapse at 102-7, allowing Invincibles to seize control of the match. Australia’s Adam Zampa made the initial breakthrough for Invincibles, followed by fast bowler Saqib Mahmood, who dismantled the Brave middle order with three wickets in seven balls.

Will Jacks, who scored 37 from 22 balls also played a crucial role by dismissing Brave captain James Vince, the tournament’s top run-scorer. While no Oval Invincibles batter managed to score big, contributions from Sam Curran (25), Jordan Cox (25), and Tom Curran (24 from 11 balls) helped set a competitive total. Southern Brave’s response saw Tymal Mills as their standout performer, taking 3-33.

However, the Brave innings struggled to gain momentum after Zampa dismissed opener Alex Davies for 35. Mahmood’s pivotal wickets of Leus du Plooy, Kieron Pollard, and Laurie Evans halted the Brave’s chase. The Invincibles, having demonstrated their all-round strength, became the first men’s team to successfully defend The Hundred trophy.

Jacks set the stage with aggressive batting, while Mahmood’s decisive bowling spell proved instrumental in securing the victory. Reacting to the win, Invincibles captain Sam Billings praised the team’s collective effort and highlighted Mahmood’s game-changing performance. Adam Zampa praised the tournament and its organization, highlighting his enjoyment of the event.

In contrast, Southern Brave’s Laurie Evans expressed his disappointment at losing in the final for the third consecutive year. Mahmood expressed confidence in the team’s success and his personal goal to return to the England white-ball squad.