An all-action display from Sam Curran and another eye-catching half-century from Jordan Cox eased reigning champions Oval Invincibles to a seven-wicket win over Southern Brave and extended their lead at the top of the table.
Points Table
Match Analysis
Set 134 to win, the Invincibles lost their openers cheaply, Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye both falling to Craig Overton, but Cox continued his red-hot form with a classy 37-ball 56 and Curran capped a fine all-round performance by making an unbeaten 50 from 32 deliveries.
Cox fell to Tymal Mills with 15 still required but captain Sam Billings struck three boundaries to ensure there were no further alarms as the visitors sealed the win with 11 balls to spare, their fourth victory in five.
The Invincibles overcame the Brave in last year’s final and they made an impressive start at Utilita Bowl, Aussie left-armer Jason Behrendorff making early inroads when he had both James Vince and Leus du Plooy caught at short third by Tom Curran, who then knocked back Laurie Evans’ off stump to leave the Brave 32-3.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Rashid Khan (3-20) was thrown the ball. Six days ago, the Afghan leggie returned figures of 0-59 at Edgbaston but he was irrepressible against the Brave, striking three times in his opening set without conceding a run to send Jason Roy, Michael Bracewell and James Coles on their way. Those scalps took Rashid to a competition-high haul of 10 in The Hundred this summer.
With the Brave sinking fast at 44-6, Hilton Cartwright and Jordan Thompson counter-attacked, the latter making a sprightly 13-ball 24 before nicking off to Sam Curran, who then castled Cartwright (42 off 30) with a pinpoint yorker.
Curran (3-21) struck again to dismiss Jofra Archer with a super-slow delivery before Mills was the last man out, run out by the livewire Curran, to end the Brave’s innings on 133 from 98 balls, not enough to prevent last year’s runners-up slumping to a third straight defeat.
Meerkat Match Hero Sam Curran said: “It was a really big win. The way the table is at the moment, we knew it was such a big game, they’re a really good team.
“I’m just really enjoying it. It’s a lovely bunch of guys. We’ve been together a while and turning up to work and playing with your mates and having coaches who know you is great.”
On sharing a 101-run partnership with Cox, he said: “He’s special, the way he’s playing is incredible. The way he’s striking the ball is so clean and so skilful. Our partnership took the pressure off early. We knew they had some key bowlers and thankfully we saw them off and got the win.”
Match Summary
Southern Brave vs Oval Invincibles Match 19
Southern Brave 133/10 (98 balls)
Oval Invincibles 134/3 (89 balls)
Result – Oval Invincibles won by 7 wickets
SCORECARD
Partnership
Match Stats
Southern Brave (Men) Fall of wickets: 1-11 (James Vince – 1.5 ov), 2-23 (Leus du Plooy – 3.1 ov), 3-32 (Laurie Evans – 4.5 ov), 4-42 (Jason Roy – 7.2 ov), 5-42 (Michael Bracewell – 7.3 ov), 6-44 (James Coles – 7.5 ov), 7-81 (Jordan Thompson – 12.3 ov), 8-120 (Hilton Cartwright – 17.5 ov), 9-129 (Jofra Archer – 19.1 ov), 10-133 (Tymal Mills – 19.3 ov)
Oval Invincibles (Men) Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Will Jacks – 0.5 ov), 2-18 (Tawanda Muyeye – 3.2 ov), 3-119 (Jordan Cox – 16.1 ov)
Wagon Wheel
Playing XI
Southern Brave (Men)
Oval Invincibles (Men)
Match Details:
Date: Monday, August 18, 2025 18:30
Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Toss: Oval Invincibles (Men) elected to bowl
Umpires: Alex Wharf (England) Ben Debenham (England) Neil Bainton (England TV)
Match Referee: Sarah Bartlett (England)
© Cricket World 2025
