Match 6, Cardiff, July 28, 2024, 11:05 PM
Oval Invincibles
113/9(20.0ov)
Welsh Fire
103/8(20.0ov)
Oval Invincibles beat Welsh Fire by 10 runs
Right then, that's it from this game of the Men's Hundred edition. The next game of the Men's Hundred is set to be played on Monday 29th of July and it will be between the Manchester Originals and Trent Rockets. The game will begin at 11.05 pm IST (5.35 pm GMT) but you can join our build-up much sooner. Until then, take care, and cheers!
Adam Zampa wins the Player of the Match award for his exceptional spell. He starts by saying that they needed to start well and take early wickets to build momentum. Credits Saqib Mahmood and Spencer Johnson for providing that strong start, and the team continued to bowl well through the middle phases. They attacked early, making it difficult for the opposition to navigate 40 balls of leg spin throughout the innings.
Earlier in the day, batting first Oval Invincibles were good in patches but the side failed to bat to their potential and batted poorly to score just 113. The side was 46 for 4 after 43 balls and a decent partnership for the 5th wicket off 46 runs helped the side get into a strong position to finish well but the batting unit collapsed again and in the last 5 sets of five they scored just they scored 22 runs for 5 wickets and they posted a below par score. Jake Ball took 3 wickets while David Willey and David Payne took a couple each. Josh Little and Mason Crane took a wicket each as well.
Bowling from the Oval Invincibles was spot on. The bowlers once again showcased their skillset and restricted the batters from scoring freely. Adam Zampa in particular was brilliant as he picked up 3 wickets. The pacers set the right at the top and Spencer Johnson and Saqib Mahmood were good to begin with whereas Sam Curran ended things well. Nathan Sowter and Sam Curran took a couple as well. The Oval Invincibles bowlers performed as a unit to help their side record two wins on the trot here.
Chasing down a low total, The innings of Welsh Fire did not start well as both Jonny Bairstow and TKC struggled to get those boundaries and the pair struggled in the middle while it lasted. Wickets kept tumbling and the finish line kept dragging away from the grasp of the Welsh Fire. Only three partnerships in double figures show how bad the batting performance was from Welsh Fire. David Payne and Mason Crane did show some fight and kept fighting till the end with a 40-run partnership off 20 balls but even that wasn't enough.
Oval Invincibles defend a low total and a sensational bowling performance from their bowlers, the defending champions win this contest by 10 runs. Welsh Fire came out to chase down a under-par target, but they just ended succumbing under pressure.
In over# 20
1
0W
2
1wd
4
0
Sam Curran 25/2(4)
100
1
Sam Curran seals the game for his side. This is a full ball, on fourth stump. Josh Little drives it along the ground towards mid off. They only get a single. Oval Invincibles win the game by 10 runs.
OUT! CAUGHT! David Payne goes hunting for that maximum to keep them in the contest, but ends up losing his wicket in the process. Sam Curran tries to go for the yorker, but it comes off as a full toss, outside off. David Payne tries to smack it towards long off but it comes off the cue end and just chips it towards extra covers. Dawid Malan there takes a dolly.
99
W
OUT! CAUGHT! David Payne goes hunting for that maximum to keep them in the contest, but ends up losing his wicket in the process. Sam Curran tries to go for the yorker, but it comes off as a full toss, outside off. David Payne tries to smack it towards long off but it comes off the cue end and just chips it towards extra covers. Dawid Malan there takes a dolly.
98
2
Good-length delivery, on fifth stump, angling across. David Payne stands tall and knocks it down to long off. They take two runs. Welsh Fire need two maximums in two deliveries to get over the line here.
98
1wd
WIDE! Slower ball, on a length, wide of off. David Payne lets it be. The umpire extends his arms as the ball goes past the tramline.
97
4
FOUR! EDGY! This is a full-length ball, outside off, pace-on as well. David Payne swings hard at it. The ball catches the outside edge, and flies to the right of the keeper. Sam Billings dives to that side but it evades his effort and runs down to the deep third fence.
96
.
This is a slower ball, on the fuller side, wide of off. David Payne shuffles way early and tries to scoop it away but misses. The ball sneaks through and ends up in the keeper's mitts.
In over# 19
0
1
1
2
2
Sam Curran 17/1(3)
95
.
Sam Curran nails the wide yorker this time, David Payne hangs back, but is a bit late to pick it up. He tries to smack it through the line but misses. Welsh Fire need 19 runs in the final 5 deliveries. Sam Billings thinks Sam Curran is the right on to end this innings.
94
1
Just a single! Slower ball, on the shorter side, following the batter outside leg. Mason Crane rides the bounce nonetheless and pulls it to deep mid-wicket, but there is protection in the deep.
93
1
Slower and shorter, outside off. David Payne pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one. Welsh Fire need 20 runs in 7 deliveries.
92
2
This is good running. It is a length ball, on middle and leg. David Payne flicks it towards deep mid-wicket. They push for the first run hard, and complete the second one as well.