With an incredible 86-run triumph over Welsh Fire, Oval Invincibles recorded the highest-ever Men’s Hundred total (226/4), led by Jordan Cox, who hit 10 sixes on his way to a 29-ball 86. The team also swept to the top of the points table. Although Cox was the Oval Invincibles’ most notable player, all four of the other players in the top four also gave it their all as the squad dominated to reach the enormous total. Although Jonny Bairstow responded with a 50 off of 28 balls, the team around him lacked the spark to sustain Fire in their difficult chase.
Although David Payne got off to a strong start with the ball, the Invincibles only failed to score at least one four or a six in the first set and another later in the match. Will Jacks welcomed Matt Henry to the competition with two fours, and the carnage continued unabated. Tawanda Muyeye, who began with two consecutive sixes off Payne, complemented Jacks at the top. They finished the PowerPlay (25 balls) with 54/0 after taking 15 off Henry’s subsequent set. Saif Zaib’s left-arm spin got Cox to the middle but finished this stand on 76, with Muyeye leaving for 33 off 15. At the midway point, the Invincibles were up 89/2 as Henry came back to remove Jacks.
Jordan Cox made up for it against Ajeet Dale after Chris Green bowled the boundary-less set to Sam Curran and Jordan Cox. Cox helped his team reach the 100-run milestone with four huge sixes in the five-ball set. He continued to swing for the fences for the rest of the innings, and this came as a sudden switch. Like Sam Curran and Donnovan Ferreira, he took his big shots on both sides of the fence and got them away with convincing ease.
When the Oval Invincibles approached the 200-mark, Jordan Cox hit three consecutive sixes off Walter in response to that gift.
When Jordan Cox was on 45 off 18, Dale dropped a catch to give him a reprieve, which only made things worse for the bowling side. In the end, they were able to break it rather easily, scoring 15, 11, and 20 runs in the final three sets.
Jason Beherendorff got rid of opener Stephen Eskinazi on the first delivery and then got rid of Steven Smith in the next set, giving Fire the worst start conceivable as they attempted to chase the mountain of runs ahead. While reaching a half-century, Jonny Bairstow formed two fighting stands with Luke Wells and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, but that was the extent of his ability. As the lower order withered under the weight of the intimidating target, Bairstow became the first of Tom Curran’s four subsequent wickets.
After Bairstow left, the Curran brothers destroyed the second half of the lineup, causing Fire to drop from 122/4 to 143 all-out. Beherendorff returned to take his third wicket, and Tom concluded with figures of 4-15. With seven balls remaining, the Fire were eliminated.
India
