Oval Invincibles Triumph Over Southern Brave in Top-of-the-Table Clash

Oval Invincibles, the defending champions of The Hundred, secured a crucial victory over Southern Brave, the league leaders, in a top-of-the-table clash at The Kia Oval. The six-wicket triumph marked a significant scalp for the Invincibles in their quest to retain their title.

Tom Curran, the elder brother of Sam Curran, played a pivotal role in restricting Southern Brave to a modest total of 118 for eight. His four-wicket haul, coupled with two wickets from Sam Curran, stifled the Brave's batting lineup. James Vince, with a valiant 52 from 39 balls, was the lone bright spot for the visitors.

The Invincibles' chase got off to a peculiar start, with Dawid Malan facing 10 consecutive dot balls and Chris Jordan conceding no runs from his first 11 deliveries. However, Jordan Cox, England's latest Test call-up, and Sam Curran broke the shackles with a 58-run partnership from 27 balls. Cox remained unbeaten on 46 from 29 balls, guiding the Invincibles to victory with 15 balls to spare.

Sam Curran, who has been instrumental in the Invincibles' recent run of five wins in six games, was named the Meerkat Match Hero for the third consecutive time. He praised the team's collective effort, particularly the bowling partnership with his brother Tom.

"We have complemented each other really well with the ball this season," said Sam Curran. "We knew we had to win this to give us the best chance of going straight through to Lord's (and reach the final)."

The victory strengthens the Invincibles' position in the standings, moving them a step closer to securing a place in the knockout stages. Southern Brave, despite the setback, remain atop the table but face a stern test in their remaining fixtures.

Tags: #TheHundred, #OvalInvincibles, #SouthernBrave, #TomCurran, #SamCurran