back of a length, angled down to deep third, Invincibles win by six wickets!
Spirit vs Invincibles, 27th Match at London, Men's Hundred, Aug 27 2022 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Invincibles won by 6 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
9.32pm: Business-like win for Invincibles, who keep up their pursuit of a spot in the knockouts. The bowlers did a fine job after Spirit opted to bat, and then Will Jacks continued his excellent tournament with another half-century, 54 from 38 to ease any fears this could be a tricky chase - Invincibles becoming the first men's team to win in the Hundred batting second at Lord's. Oval are up to third in the table, ahead of Birmingham Phoenix on NRR, and London Spirit are also still waiting on qualification after losing only their second game out of seven. It's tight at the top, with five teams still eyeing the play-offs, and there's another crunch fixture coming up tomorrow, fourth versus fifth with Phoenix hosting Manchester Originals - we'll be back to bring you that, but for now, it's good night and good luck!
Sam Curran is named Match Hero for his 3 for 16: "We did [need to win], pretty simple now, if we win our last game we give ourselves a chance. We struggled to take powerplay wickets this year, so that's something we focused on. Hatzoglou came in really well, replacing Sunil [Narine] is big shoes to fill but he did brilliantly. With our cutters towards the end, we bowled really well as a unit. [Jacks innings] Jacksy is probably the one who should be standing here, an amazing knock and he's done it throughout. Tom came in and put any doubts to bed at the end there."
Invincibles captain, Sam Billings: "Really good win, we needed it. They were top, it brings everyone back into it. It's going to be exciting. [Players leaving] Presents opportunities, any team will miss Narine. Peter Hatzoglou comes in, not many teams have seen him but he's done well in the Big Bash. Everyone contributed and the fielding was top class, which we haven't seen before. You ask guys to go out there and show it, catch of the tournament [from Milnes] and then the run-out of Morgan. Two huge moments that changed the game. [Sam Curran] He's world class, he's involved in all aspects and has the character you want in the pressure moments. [Tom Curran] He's been telling Moods and I to get him up the order, he's striking at 250 in his first ten balls so we said go and finish the game. As a captain, you want those characters in the team. [Winning at Lord's] It's a tough place to come, they're a great side. But we did well to restrict them to a score that we could chase down. [Spin] I felt spin was the way to go, Morgan came in so I thought get Jacks into the game. See the conditions in front of you and try to react. [Jacks batting] He's world class, quietish powerplay but we didn't lose wickets. Perfect start on a tricky pitch. He's played beautifully this year, the power he has all around the wicket."
Out comes Sam Billings, three still needed
goes high into the night sky again, taken at long-on... Crane has to juggle it while stepping out of bounds! He was right on the rope, and nearly overbalanced, tossing the ball up in order to put his foot over and then hop back in. In fact, he might just have brushed the boundary marker with his heel... But the third ump is happy, and Curran has to go
pitched up, aims a crashing blow down the ground... but completely underclubs it and long-on can't get anywhere near the chance running in!
short ball, SCurran walks across and attempts to ramp it over the keeper. Doesn't connect
hard length into the body, TeeCee works it through midwicket
full toss, clubbed without timing into the leg side
Thompson again. Or it will be, after a short delay for a pitch invader
That brings the requirement down to single figures with 20 balls left in the chase
tonked through the covers, Curran is taking them home! Length ball outside off and he stands tall, bashes through the line, gets it past the infield and away
slower-ball bumper, Curran is foxed and toe-ends a swipe back to the bowler
82mph, hard length and Curran swings for the hills, fails to connect
slower ball, squirming away down the leg side, and Rossington can't hold on one-handed
smeared back down the ground! No nonsense stuff from TeeCee, who stands still and throws the hands, belting four back past mid-off
slugged through midwicket, Curran again gets this away to the rope in front of the sweeper
Can the Curran Bros get this done? Just 22 needed
slower ball, kicks up to hit the splice... but the ball runs away into a gap at backward square leg for a couple more
pounded through midwicket! Short ball from Thompson and it sits up nicely for Curran to swipe a pull to the fence
over the wicket, fired in straight and tapped leg side
Out comes Tom Curran, still a run a ball needed. But Invincibles do have quite a long tail
miscued into the leg side... Jacks falls! Stepping away and looking to go over the short side, but he skies it towards deep midwicket. Safely taken by Inglis running in, and Spirit still have a glimmer here
short ball, Curran swings hard at a pull... and cue-ends it through point! In the air, but he gets away with it
Thompson for his second set
Spirit hanging doggedly on to the coattails, Invincibles needing 29 from 30
full length outside off and Curran has waltzed across to deflect one more down to fine leg
length ball on off stump, drilled out to the cover sweeper
short of a length, 81mph and Curran drops it into the off side to scurry up the other end
Sam Curran is in at No. 4