They may have started the evening a long way apart in the table but a local derby is a local derby and there was plenty to enjoy at a packed Kia Oval as a scorching Bank Holiday saw the Invincibles all but book their place in The Hundred Final at Lord’s next Sunday.
Match Analysis
Sam Billings’ team will be there barring a run rate miracle later this week, without the agonies of going through Saturday’s Eliminator, having won the toss and chosen to field, only to run into what is now becoming the customary Jamie Smith steam train.
The England starlet sent the first two balls of the match from the previously parsimonious Jason Berhrendorff to the boundary. More fireworks followed but he was then out for 28 from the 20th ball of the innings, having faced 15 of them. The game never looked quite so easy after that, the highlights being a stunning one-handed catch from Will Jacks to get rid of Surrey teammate Ollie Pope from a Sam Curran slower ball, and rapid cameos from Jamie Overton and Ryan Higgins, who exactly matched Smith’s stats despite a slow start. The two put on a tournament-high sixth wicket stand of 54.
152-7 seemed a little below par on a decent surface, but a first-baller for Tawanda Muyeye gave the Spirit hope. Then Will Jacks and Jordan Cox put on 64 in 35 balls, Jacks taking the lead with some clean striking, a 92-metre maximum over extra cover off Jamie Overton perhaps the standout moment of his 27-ball 45.
Sam Curran joined Cox, so often a profitable partnership this year, and they eased their way towards their target before the Spirit’s most successful bowler, Liam Dawson, tempted Curran with a wide one that he skied to point. Cox (47 from 27), the competition’s leading run-scorer, hit Overton for six and four before he was castled trying to ramp the same bowler.
But that merely brought in Donovan Ferreira who again showcased his muscular hitting, ending with 24 off 9 as the Invincibles booked their passage to the final (barring an almost impossible 200+ swing) by six wickets with 22 balls to spare.
Of his catch, Meerkat Match Hero Will Jacks said: “We were struggling to see the ball today, so I picked it up late, pure luck!”
And of the batting effort: “It felt brilliant with the bat, the wicket only got better as the lights came on and Coxy made it easy for me. We’ve been looking for that top spot, we know how important it is to get straight to the final and to be able to watch the two teams play the night before. We’ve still got things to improve on… but we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Match Summary
Oval Invincibles (Men) vs London Spirit (Men), Match 29
Oval Invincibles (Men) 153/4 (78 balls)
London Spirit (Men) 152/7 (100 balls)
Result – Oval Invincibles (Men) won by 6 wickets
SCORECARD
Partnership
Oval Invincibles seal the win with a 6 ????#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/bbcFXYa7O0
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 25, 2025
Match Stats
London Spirit (Men) Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Jamie Smith – 3.5 ov), 2-39 (David Warner – 4.3 ov), 3-49 (Ollie Pope – 6.4 ov), 4-74 (Kane Williamson – 11.5 ov), 5-88 (Ashton Turner – 13.4 ov), 6-142 (Jamie Overton – 19.2 ov), 7-152 (Ryan Higgins – 19.5 ov)
Oval Invincibles (Men) Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Tawanda Muyeye – 1.1 ov), 2-69 (Will Jacks – 8.1 ov), 3-114 (Sam Curran – 12.3 ov), 4-127 (Jordan Cox – 13.3 ov)
Wagon Wheel
Playing XI
Oval Invincibles (Men)
London Spirit (Men)
Match Details:
Date: Monday, August 25, 2025 18:30
Venue: Kennington Oval, London
Toss: Oval Invincibles (Men) elected to bowl
Umpires: Ben Debenham (England) Rob White (England) Sue Redfern (England TV)
Match Referee: Alec Swann (England)
© Cricket World 2025
