Invincibles vs Brave, Final at London, Men's Hundred, Aug 18 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

9.16pm It's almost time for the trophy-lift. Sam Billings, once again, has the honours. His team are up on the stage, and the moment is upon us. Off go the fireworks, another complete squad performance from the best outfit in the competition's short history. That's a wrap from the 2024 Hundred, I hope you enjoyed our coverage, and remember, it's a Test-match week! Join us again on Wednesday at Old Trafford for England vs Sri Lanka. From Miller, Alan, Ranjith and the team, good night!

9.10pm A super end to the Invincibles' campaign, and an especially heartening display from Saqib Mahmood after his injury-wrecked two years. England won't be far away on that sort of display. With Atkinson and Johnson absent, it was another big performance from a big quick.

Laurie Evans: "Gutted, third year in a row [after two with Manchester Originals]. I don't know what to say. This game means a lot, you take pride in what you do, Saqib made a great spell, trophies define a career and I'll remember the ones I've lost. It was chaseable, we were in it all the way, Saqib bowled a great spell, can't do much about that"

9.01pm That is the end of that. Oval Invincibles make it two in two, to go along with the back-to-back women's titles in 2021 and 2022, to announce arguably the first Hundred dynasty! Superb captaincy from Sam Billings in the field, where Adam Zampa and Saqib Mahmood, with three wickets in seven balls, were the key men. Jacks starred with bat and ball too, Jordan Cox and Tom Curran played key roles with the bat. Brave did brilliantly to reach the final, but they were a distant second-best tonight.

Adam Zampa: "It was a funny game, could have got more with the bat, but put them under pressure, got key wickets at the right time. The Vince wicket, he's a big player for them, when we got him out we knew we could put the middle-order under pressure. I love this tournament, days like today, it's a good event."

Will Jacks: "Amazing feeling, last five balls, when you know you're going to win, amazing, I've struggled for runs, but I know my role and did well today. People look to target me, nipped it down the slope, huge moment [getting Vince].

Sam Billings: "A real team effort throughout the tournament, probably better than last year. Didn't all go our way but that's the strength of our group. Mahmood, amazing ten balls. Huge part of the game, a turning point, as was the Vince wicket. The game ebbs and flows, 50-50 throughout, if you get a couple of wickets here at Lord's it's very difficult. A few sore heads in the morning but you deserve it, your career goes past so quietly, so celebrating with a group of mates is very special."

Sean: "Terrific entertainment- the best 100 ball tournament on the planet! "

28,860 in attendance for the men's final, to follow the 22,000 for the women. Good numbers

Four sixes it is then...

Sam Curran to close it out

24 from 5 is... a big ask

Curran takes a dent, but it's still a hefty 34 needed from 10

Aamir Khan : "12:45AM here in Pakistan. Surely all over for Braves. How Important that innings of T. Curran"

Fifteen balls to go. Is there a miracle in store? Sam Curran thinks not...

Zampa bowls out with 19 wickets in the tournament, which I believe draws him level with Mills for the tournament. Indeed it does.

Manoj: "Excellent captaincy from Billings there to give next set to Mahmood, he saw pollard was struggling there against the deliveries which was going both the ways. Priced heavily !!"

As if it wasn't bleak enough for Brave, here's Zampa