A wild fox unexpectedly entered the pitch during the first game of The Hundred Men’s 2025 between Oval Invincibles and London Spirit at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, stopping play.
Featuring international stars including Rashid Khan, Sam Curran, David Warner, Kane Williamson, and Ashton Turner, the match marked the start of this year’s edition of The Hundred. However, a fox unexpectedly came onto the pitch halfway through the second innings as the Oval Invincibles were chasing a goal of 81 runs.
Daniel Worrall was about to bowl when it happened. The animal bounded over the advertising hoardings and out of the ground after running over the grassy outfield and even past the Pavilion. As the fox left, the Lord’s audience cheered it on with excitement. Stuart Broad was among the commentators who were heard asking, “How can I catch a fox?”
View the video below:
There’s a fox on the field! 🦊 pic.twitter.com/3FiM2W90yZ
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 5, 2025
Spirit is surpassed by Invincibles.
The London Spirit, batting first, were bowled out for just 80 runs prior to the fox’s arrival. Even with players like Warner and Williamson in their strong batting order, Spirit was unable to stop the Invincibles’ bowling attack.
After a post-IPL hiatus, Rashid Khan made a comeback to the field and ran through the Spirit’s middle order, taking three wickets for just 11 runs in his 20-ball stint. Sam Curran, meanwhile, finished with 3/18. Ashton Turner led London Spirit in scoring with 21, but the team’s total was lacklustre since no other batter was able to provide support.
Oval Invincibles won the match by six wickets after chasing down the target with 14 balls remaining. Tawanda Muyeye and Will Jacks started off with a solid 34-run partnership in 32 balls. The Invincibles managed to chase down the modest mark despite losing a few wickets in the middle. Rashid Khan’s game-changing spell earned him the title of Player of the Match.
“It felt terrific to play for the team and to start out on a winning note. (On his motivation for taking a break after the IPL) IPL is a lengthy event, so it helped me think about how to prepare both emotionally and physically for the next competition. I tried to hit the right spots when bowling because the surface was fantastic and there was spin available. I made a mistake, but it turned out fine. (On the value of experience) It is very helpful in a competition like this one where things move so fast. After the game, Khan stated, “I haven’t bowled in a few months, but the quantity of cricket I’ve played over the past ten years really helps.”
India
