
Oval Invincibles extend winning run – Why holders remain unstoppable in The Hundred
Invincibles Win Again – What Makes the Holders So Dominant?
Southern Brave 133 (98): Cartwright 42 (30); Rashid 3-30, S Curran 3-21
Oval Invincibles 134-3 (89): Cox 56 (37), S Curran 50 (32)
Oval Invincibles won by 7 wickets
Oval Invincibles extended their dominance in The Hundred with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl. The two-time defending champions are now four points clear at the top of the men’s table, with their powerful mix of stability, smart recruitment and ruthless execution proving the difference once again.
How the Match Was Won
The Invincibles’ bowlers set the tone. Jason Behrendorff struck early before Rashid Khan ripped through the Brave lineup with three wickets in five balls, reducing them to 44-6 inside 40 deliveries.
Despite Hilton Cartwright’s fighting 42, Sam Curran capped an outstanding display with three wickets and a direct-hit run-out, wrapping up the Brave innings in just 98 balls.
In reply, the Invincibles stumbled to 18-2 in the powerplay. But Jordan Cox (56 from 37) and Curran (50* from 32) added 101 runs together, steering their side home with 11 balls to spare.
The Secret Behind Invincibles’ Success
No men’s franchise in world cricket boasts a better win record since 2023 than the Oval Invincibles (78.2%). Their formula:
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Stability & Team Spirit
Six core players – including both Curran brothers, Cox, Will Jacks, skipper Sam Billings and Nathan Sowter – have played 25+ matches together. That chemistry is unmatched across The Hundred.
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Smart Recruitment
Invincibles target overseas spinners and left-arm pacers – two vital T20 assets. Adam Zampa, Sunil Narine and now Rashid Khan have all been signed for over £100k. Behrendorff adds to a pace attack already led by Sam Curran.
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Bowling Variety
They’ve taken 31 powerplay wickets since 2023 (2nd best) and boast the best death economy in the competition (1.59 runs per ball).
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Batting Firepower
From Jacks and Muyeye up top to Cox’s current hot streak and Billings’ steady finishing, their batting is long and destructive. They’ve smashed 92 sixes in the last 25 balls of innings across five seasons – the best in the competition.
It’s no surprise new signing Muyeye compared playing for Invincibles to “the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.”
What’s Next?
The Hundred continues on Tuesday at Trent Bridge, with a double-header between Trent Rockets and Manchester Originals. The women’s match begins at 15:00 BST, followed by the men’s clash at 18:30. Both games are live on BBC Two, iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
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