Cricket

The Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against the London Spirit at Lord's, securing their third win in four matches in The Hundred. Sam Curran's exceptional all-round performance proved pivotal in the Invincibles' 30-run triumph.Curran's blistering knock of 51 from just 22 deliveries propelled the Invincibles to a competitive total of 147 for 5 on a challenging pitch. His innings included three consecutive sixes off Nathan Ellis, showcasing his power-hitting prowess.In response, the Spirit's openers, Keaton Jennings and Michael Pepper, provided a solid start, guiding their team to 35 for 0 in the powerplay. However, the Invincibles' spin attack, led by Adam Zampa and Nathan Sowter, tightened the screws, dismissing both openers and Ollie Pope in quick succession.Dan Lawrence and Shimron Hetmyer briefly revived the Spirit's hopes, but Zampa's dismissal of both batsmen left the visitors needing 56 runs from the final 30 balls. Andre Russell attempted to rally his team, but Curran's hat-trick, the third in the history of The Hundred men's competition, sealed the victory for the Invincibles.Curran's five-wicket haul, including the hat-trick, earned him the Meerkat Match Hero award. He expressed his satisfaction with the performance, acknowledging the challenges posed by Russell and the importance of securing the win.The Invincibles' victory consolidates their position in the top half of the standings, while the Spirit remain winless after four matches. The result highlights the importance of all-round contributions and the impact of spin bowling in The Hundred.

Welsh Fire's relentless pursuit of 151 runs at Lord's culminated in a thrilling six-wicket victory over London Spirit, marking the visitors' highest-ever chase in the women's Hundred. The triumph also snapped Spirit's unbeaten streak in this year's competition.West Indies star Hayley Matthews emerged as the game-changer, blasting an unbeaten 78 off 46 deliveries, her highest score in the tournament. Her innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 11 boundaries and two towering sixes.Spirit's total of 150 for 5 was built on a late surge of aggression from Danni Gibson and Deepti Sharma. Gibson's 25-ball 41 included six boundaries and a six, while Sharma's unbeaten 39 off 26 balls showcased her power-hitting prowess.Former Spirit right-armer Freya Davies played a crucial role for Fire, claiming the key wickets of Meg Lanning and Heather Knight. Her 2 for 19 helped restrict Spirit's total.The chase began with a setback for Fire as skipper Tammy Beaumont was trapped lbw by Tara Norris on review. However, Matthews' brilliance kept the visitors in the hunt. She was dropped on 36, a costly error that proved pivotal.With 69 runs needed from 40 balls, Matthews took control, finding the boundaries with ease. Eva Gray's spilled chance when Matthews was on 36 proved costly, as the West Indian star went on to reach her half-century from 37 balls.Despite losing Jess Jonassen to Sarah Glenn, Matthews continued to dominate, smashing Sharma for a straight six to leave 10 needed off nine. Fittingly, she sealed the victory with another boundary, securing a second win for Welsh Fire.Spirit's batting depth was on display as they chased a third straight win. Lanning's 31 off 20 balls and Gibson's 41 set the platform, while Sharma's late fireworks added impetus.

London Spirit emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Birmingham Phoenix at Lord's, securing a 20-run victory. Meg Lanning, the Australian captain, played a pivotal role for Spirit, scoring her maiden half-century in the Hundred.The match witnessed a crowd of 16,641, marking the fifth-highest attendance in the history of the women's Hundred. The contest was fiercely competitive, with both teams showcasing their strengths.Phoenix, despite their previous struggles, threatened to pull off an upset. Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, played a valiant innings of 65, while Sophie Devine, the New Zealand captain, contributed 37 runs.However, Spirit's bowling attack proved too strong, with Sarah Glenn claiming three crucial wickets in the final overs. Glenn's performance sealed the victory for Heather Knight's side, who now boast a perfect 2-0 record in the tournament.Lanning, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the challenges faced by her team. "The wicket was conducive to taking the pace off the ball, making it difficult for us," she said. "But we adjusted our strategy and bowled straight at the stumps, which ultimately paid off."Earlier, Spirit had set a competitive total of 147 for 9. Lanning led the charge with a well-crafted 53, while Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith also made significant contributions.Phoenix's chase began promisingly, with Perry and Devine forming a formidable partnership. However, the required run rate proved too demanding, and Spirit's bowlers maintained their composure to secure the victory.

London Spirit's Heather Knight orchestrated a stunning six-wicket victory over reigning champions Southern Brave in a thrilling encounter at The Hundred. Chasing 152, Knight's unbeaten 65 from 31 balls proved decisive, guiding her team to victory with three deliveries to spare.Southern Brave's innings was anchored by Danni Wyatt's 59 from 35 balls, making her The Hundred's all-time leading run-scorer. Maia Bouchier contributed 35 before a mix-up with Wyatt led to her run-out. Georgia Adams and Chloe Tryon propelled Brave to 151 for 6.Spirit's reply began slowly, with Meg Lanning dismissed by 16-year-old debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman. Georgia Redmayne provided momentum with 45 from 31, before Charli Knott's direct hit removed Dani Gibson.Knight took charge, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Knott to bring Spirit back into contention. Despite Knott's dismissal of Gibson, Knight remained composed, dispatching Adams to the boundary for the winning runs.Knight's match-winning performance earned her the Meerkat Match Hero award. She acknowledged the difficulty of beating Brave at home and praised Wyatt's innings. Knight emphasized the importance of clear shot selection and the impact of the quick outfield in enabling Spirit to catch up quickly.

Deepti Sharma, the Indian all-rounder, will return to the Hundred this year, signing for London Spirit as a replacement for the injured Grace Harris. Sharma previously played for Spirit in the inaugural season of the competition in 2021 and was an unused member of Birmingham Phoenix's squad the following summer.The Hundred, a 100-ball cricket tournament, commences on July 23. Spirit's opening fixture is scheduled for the following day against Southern Brave. However, Sharma will miss the start of the competition due to her participation in the Asia Cup in Dambulla. Erin Burns, who is currently playing for Northern Diamonds in England, will replace Sharma for the first two games.Sharma is one of three Indian players set to participate in the Hundred this season, alongside Richa Ghosh (Birmingham Phoenix) and Smriti Mandhana (Southern Brave). Like Sharma, both players are part of India's Asia Cup squad and will miss the first week of the competition.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the latest tranche of replacement players on Thursday afternoon. Sophie Molineux (Manchester Originals) also withdrew from the Hundred, with no reason provided. Australia has a busy schedule ahead, including a short series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in September.Molineux has been replaced by Kim Garth, while Bethan Ellis will join her at the Originals after Mahika Gaur pulled out due to a side strain. Tash Farrant has been ruled out with a hamstring injury but is yet to be replaced at Oval Invincibles. Beth Langston will replace Claire Nicholas at Welsh Fire.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, England's Test batters will be released to play in the men's Hundred immediately after their third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston. However, their bowlers and all-rounders, including Ben Stokes, are likely to play only the second half of the group stages due to workload management.Other notable replacement deals include Leicestershire's Louis Kimber, who takes up the injured Will Smeed's spot at Phoenix, and Mohammad Amir, who has signed for the defending champions Oval Invincibles as short-term cover while Spencer Johnson concludes his commitments at Major League Cricket.

The Hundred, England's domestic 100-ball cricket competition, is attracting interest from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. According to Mark Nicholas, the MCC president and future chairman of London Spirit, five IPL teams have expressed a "soft" interest in acquiring a stake in the Lord's-based franchise.This development comes as MCC considers accepting the ECB's offer of a 51% stake in London Spirit as part of the Hundred's privatization drive. Under the proposed model, the eight Hundred "hosts" will receive majority stakes in their respective teams, with the ECB selling the remaining 49% to private investors through a bidding process.Nicholas emphasized the importance of member support for MCC's decision, describing the move towards private equity as a "monumental" step that will ultimately benefit cricket at all levels. He highlighted the global boom in cricket franchises and the need for English cricket to capitalize on this opportunity.The ECB has appointed Raine Group and Deloitte as advisors for the Hundred privatization. While there is no formal deadline, the ECB aims to finalize terms by the end of the year. However, Nicholas acknowledged that several issues still need to be resolved, including the bidding process and the rollout of franchises.The World Cricket Connects symposium, hosted by MCC on July 5, will provide a platform for influential figures in cricket to discuss the future of the game. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, senior IPL officials, and prominent current and former cricketers are expected to attend. Nicholas believes it is crucial to listen to the voices of potential bidders, who have driven the success of cricket franchises worldwide.

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is seeking member approval for its proposed 51% stake in the London Spirit franchise of the Hundred. The club's committee has expressed support for the ECB's plan to attract private investment in the tournament's eight teams.MCC's chief executive, Guy Lavender, outlined the committee's position in a letter to members. He emphasized the potential for the Hundred to grow the men's and women's game. While some hosts may sell part or all of their stake, MCC intends to retain its majority ownership.However, MCC has made it clear that member approval is crucial. An SGM will be held on September 9 for members to vote on the club's acceptance of the 51% equity share. The results will be announced a week later.MCC will retain the right to veto any potential minority shareholder in London Spirit. Lavender stressed that the decision is not about accepting the highest bidder but finding a partner who aligns with MCC's values and expertise.The London Spirit franchise is expected to be the most valuable due to its association with Lord's. Andrew Umbers, co-founder of Oakwell Sports Advisory, believes the scarcity premium of the two London teams makes it a lucrative investment.Other Hundred-hosting counties are evaluating their positions on the competition's future. Hampshire is a private club, but the remaining six counties have not yet publicly committed to giving members a direct vote on the Hundred's privatization.MCC's decision to seek member approval has been praised by the County Cricket Members Group. Coordinator Alan Higham believes it demonstrates the club's recognition of the significance of the decision for the game as a whole.

Mark Nicholas, the former Hampshire captain and current MCC president, has stepped down as chair of Southern Brave's board. This decision aligns with his impending role as MCC chair, which coincides with the potential for MCC to become majority owners of London Spirit.Nicholas's departure from Southern Brave, a joint venture between Hampshire and Sussex, stems from his increasing involvement with MCC. He has been instrumental in communicating with MCC members regarding the proposed changes to the ownership structure of Hundred teams. The ECB plans to grant 51% stakes to team hosts, with MCC poised to acquire a significant share in London Spirit.MCC has been exploring the possibility of owning a stake in London Spirit since late last year. Nicholas has expressed his support for this move, envisioning MCC as the unifying force behind a single team. The global prominence of Lord's, MCC's home ground, makes London Spirit a highly lucrative investment.If MCC acquires a majority stake in London Spirit, the potential windfall could be used to enhance the MCC Foundation, invest in the club's museum, and upgrade facilities at Lord's. Recently, MCC received approval for a £61.8 million redevelopment of the Allen and Tavern Stands.Nicholas's resignation from Southern Brave's board is a testament to his growing responsibilities at MCC. As he prepares to assume the role of chair in October, he will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of MCC and its potential involvement in the Hundred.