The Oval Invincibles solidified their supremacy in The Hundred by clinching their second consecutive title with a 17-run win over Southern Brave in the final held at Lord's.
Southern Brave, set a target of 148, began their innings with confidence but faltered under the mounting pressure, collapsing from a promising 58-0 to a disappointing 102-7 as the Invincibles’ bowlers seized control. Adam Zampa of Australia and England’s Saqib Mahmood were pivotal in this dramatic turn of events.
Zampa dismantled the opening partnership, while Mahmood delivered a match-winning spell, claiming three wickets in just seven balls to disrupt the Brave’s middle order.
Southern Brave’s chase got off to a strong start with Alex Davies and James Vince forming a solid opening stand of 58. Davies was particularly aggressive, scoring 35 off 23 balls, but his dismissal by Zampa sparked a dramatic collapse. Vince, the top run-scorer of the tournament, added 24 before being dismissed by Will Jacks, who had earlier set a strong foundation for the Invincibles with a quick 37 from 22 balls.
The Invincibles’ innings was marked by a balanced team effort, with several players contributing valuable runs. Sam Curran and Jordan Cox each scored 25, while Tom Curran’s explosive late innings of 24 from just 11 balls helped push the total to 147. Tymal Mills was the standout bowler for Brave, taking 3-33 and securing important breakthroughs, but the Invincibles managed to recover each time.
Southern Brave’s innings seemed promising with their robust opening partnership, but the loss of their key batsmen led to a rapid downfall. Mahmood’s quick strikes dismantled Leus du Plooy, Kieron Pollard, and Laurie Evans in quick succession, leaving Brave in a precarious position. From that point on, the Invincibles maintained control with precision.
Zampa, who finished the tournament as one of the top wicket-takers with 19, played a crucial role once again. His consistent ability to break partnerships was instrumental in the final. Mahmood, in only his fifth game of the tournament, made a decisive impact, ensuring the Invincibles retained their dominance throughout the match.
Final scores:
Oval Invincibles 147 for 9 in 100 balls (Will Jacks 37, Sam Curran 25; Tymal Mills 3-33, Akeal Hossein 3-34) defeated Southern Brave 130 for 7 in 100 balls (Alex Davies 35, James Vince 24; Saqib Mahmood 3-17, Adam Zampa 2-26) by 17 runs.
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