bang bang bang! Evans finishes it with a triple flourish! Too short on the body, pulled flat over the fine leg rope in punishing style as the ball clangs off the fifth row of seats with fans jumping out of the way of the line of fire. The crowd roars their delight. Invincibles cruise to victory in the end.
Fire vs Invincibles, 16th Match at London, Men's Hundred, Aug 02 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Invincibles won by 6 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
9.12 pm Well that was emphatic at the end from Laurie Evans. Invincibles record a dominant win.
Match Hero is Sam Billings: "I think the bowlers really did well in the last game and they showed their class again as well to restrict them on a really good wicket. It's been a hit and miss start with the weather but a really good show in front of the home crowd. We're creating chances all the way through the innings. Our fielding is something we need to work on and put right if we want to go a long way in this tournament or it could've been even better than 120. We back ourselves to adapt on any pitch. It wasn't always pretty but we got the job done. It's a role I really enjoy doing. Most guys want to open but I'm happy in the middle playing spin. When it was time to push the button, we did that brilliantly. The one less ball an over really does put you under pressure with your decision making. I'm a badger so I love doing my homework."
That's it from tonight's match coverage. Come back tomorrow for more Hundred doubleheader action. For Andrew Miller and Alan Gardner, and Matt Roller at The Oval, I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care!
One shot will do it for the Invincibles here.
length ball on fourth stump, Evans heaves this on the up very very flat over wide long-on, thuds into the rope on the full and is given as six.
wide yorker attempted, Evans carves it out with a square drive behind point, beats the sweeper who was too wide nearer extra cover and can't stop it.
Payne returns from over the stumps with his left-arm pace.
Fire doing what they can to stretch this out. 13 runs off 10 balls to win now.
back of a length on off, pulls this flat to deep midwicket.
short on the body, follows him backing away from leg and this time a flat bat swipe goes straight to Neesham without needing a tumbling effort to stop it.
short on the stumps, flat bat swat to long-on, Neesham slides along the rope to stop a boundary.
goes for yorker on middle at 78 mph, Billings backs away from leg and laces a drive straight to mid-off.
short on the stumps, goes to pull and a top edge swirls into no man's land inside the ring at short midwicket.
short on the body, pulls this flat to deep fine leg.
good length on the legs, flicked gently into midwicket again for a perfectly weighted two.
good length on the legs, flicked to fine leg.
good length ball on middle, flicked with soft hands into midwicket, perfectly weighted for two.
good length ball on off stump, punched off the back foot to mid-on.
another short ball, this time on middle and this time pulled firmly and straight along the turf to deep backward square.
slower ball full on leg stump, pulled flat to deep square leg and cut off by Milnes for a long single.
bouncer follows Billings backing away from leg stump, hustled by Neesham and a top-edge pull swirls over fine leg, the man on the rope is very square and has no chance to cut this off at the rope.
back of a length on the legs, clipped to deep square leg.
Barryaverage: "Losing another wicket wouldn't be the worst outcome for OI, get Tom "The finisher" Curran in"
back of a length on leg stump, flicked to deep midwicket for one.
Neesham on now to bowl his last five.
googly lands on off, Billings goes back to punch through extra cover, the sweeper has a long way to track it down and can't deny the second.
full on sixth stump, opens up to drive inside out through cover.