Cricket

Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in a nail-biting last-ball thriller against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford, securing a three-run victory to ascend to the top of the table.Sam Curran, the England all-rounder, once again proved to be the match-winner for the Invincibles, showcasing his exceptional skills with both bat and ball. Curran's blistering knock of 68 runs from 38 deliveries, including six towering sixes, propelled the Invincibles to a competitive total of 164 for 8.Manchester Originals, despite a promising start, faltered in their chase, falling short by a mere three runs. Young opener Matthew Hurst impressed with a scintillating 50 from 29 balls, but his dismissal triggered a collapse in the Originals' batting lineup.Curran's heroics with the ball were equally impressive. He conceded just three runs from the final five deliveries of the match, ensuring the Invincibles' victory. His two wickets, along with the contributions of Will Jacks (2-16) and Adam Zampa (2-30), proved crucial in restricting the Originals to 161 for 7.The defeat extinguished the Originals' hopes of reaching the knockout stage, while the Invincibles extended their winning streak and cemented their position as title contenders. Curran's consistent brilliance has been a key factor in the Invincibles' success, and his ability to perform under pressure has earned him widespread admiration."I thought with the ball it felt like we bowled really well," Curran said after the match. "I think our success at the moment is just the self-belief. Everyone is able to step up and it can always be someone different. The Hundred format is good because you can always feel in the game."

Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in their Women's Hundred clash against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford, securing a comfortable seven-wicket win. The victory marked a return to form for the Invincibles, who had endured a two-game winless streak.The Originals, seeking redemption after a disappointing loss to Northern Superchargers, posted a modest total of 125 for 4. Openers Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney provided a solid start, but their momentum was halted by sharp catches from Seren Smale and Ryana MacDonald-Gay. Skipper Sophie Ecclestone provided a late surge with an unbeaten 26 from 15 balls.In response, the Invincibles' chase was anchored by an unbeaten 67-run partnership between Paige Scholfield and Marizanne Kapp. Scholfield, the Meerkat Match Hero, struck 48 from 27 balls, while Kapp contributed 19 from 11. Opener Chamari Athapaththu laid the foundation with a steady 33 from 36 balls.The Invincibles' fielding was equally impressive, with Amanda-Jade Wellington emerging as the standout bowler with figures of 2 for 22. The team's disciplined performance and ability to capitalize on the Originals' mistakes proved decisive.The victory propelled the Invincibles to second place in the points table, while the Originals remained in sixth position. Both teams will be eager to maintain their momentum in their upcoming fixtures.

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.

In a thrilling encounter at Lord's, the Oval Invincibles and London Spirit played out a dramatic tie in front of a packed crowd of 17,810. The match was marked by exceptional performances from overseas stars Marizanne Kapp and Deepti Sharma.Kapp, the South African all-rounder, starred for the Invincibles with a brilliant 4 for 11 and a quickfire 47. Her bowling prowess was on full display as she dismissed Meg Lanning, Cordelia Griffith, Georgia Redmayne, and Heather Knight. With the bat, she played a crucial role in the Invincibles' chase, smashing a 32-ball 47.Deepti, the Indian all-rounder, was equally impressive for the Spirit. She took 3 for 18 with her economical off-spin, including the key wickets of Alice Capsey, Paige Scholfield, and Mady Villiers. She also contributed a valuable 44 runs with the bat, anchoring the Spirit's innings.The match was a see-saw affair, with both teams trading blows throughout. The Invincibles looked in control after Kapp's early wickets, but Deepti's recovery innings kept the Spirit in the game. In the chase, Kapp's knock gave the Invincibles hope, but Deepti's bowling and some smart fielding from the Spirit kept them in the hunt.The final over was a nail-biting affair. With the Invincibles needing two runs from the final ball, Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Jo Gardner attempted a match-winning two. However, a brilliant run-out by Charlie Dean denied them victory.The tie was a testament to the skill and determination of both teams. Kapp and Deepti were the standout performers, but the contributions of other players, such as Cordelia Griffith, Georgia Redmayne, and Eva Gray for the Spirit, and Alice Capsey, Sarah Glenn, and Amanda-Jade Wellington for the Invincibles, were also crucial.

Northern Superchargers' Annabel Sutherland emerged as the star of the show at The Kia Oval, leading her team to a resounding 82-run victory over Oval Invincibles in the Hundred. The Australian all-rounder showcased her exceptional skills with a blistering 63 runs from 40 balls and a devastating 4-11 with the ball.Sutherland's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as she launched three towering sixes into the sun-drenched crowd. Her knock, coupled with Phoebe Litchfield's 44, propelled Superchargers to an imposing total of 146 for 4.Invincibles, who had boasted a 100% record in the competition, were left reeling as Sutherland wreaked havoc with her bowling. Her four wickets, all clean bowled, came in the final six balls of the match, ensuring a dominant victory for Superchargers.The win marked Superchargers' first of the campaign, providing a much-needed boost to their morale. Captain Hollie Armitage hailed Sutherland's performance as a game-changer, saying, "It is so nice to get a win on the board. We've felt pretty good as a group, but we just haven't quite put it together with the bat. It was nice to do it out there."Invincibles' hopes of chasing down Superchargers' total were dashed early on as they lost wickets in quick succession. Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lankan skipper, was dismissed for just 10 runs, while Mady Villiers and Alice Capsey also fell cheaply.Paige Scholfield and Amanda-Jade Wellington attempted to rebuild the innings, but their efforts were in vain as Sutherland returned to claim four wickets in six balls. The Australian's heroics sealed the victory for Superchargers, who now have a win under their belt and will be looking to build on this momentum in the upcoming matches.

Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in their clash against Welsh Fire at Cardiff, securing a six-wicket triumph. England's rising star, Alice Capsey, once again showcased her brilliance, contributing a well-crafted 59 runs to the Invincibles' total.Capsey's innings, spanning 48 deliveries, featured seven boundaries. Her dismissal, a spectacular catch by Hayley Matthews off Freya Davies, came with 27 runs still required. However, all-rounders Marizanne Kapp (26*) and Mady Villiers (11*) stepped up to the plate, guiding the Invincibles to victory with 12 balls to spare.The Invincibles' chase faced an early setback with the dismissal of Lauren Winfield-Hill on the second ball. Paige Schofield and Capsey steadied the innings, reaching 37 for 1 after 20 balls. Capsey survived a crucial drop by Ismail off Jess Jonassen and went on to reach her half-century from 42 deliveries.Welsh Fire, who elected to bat first, struggled to gain momentum. Tammy Beaumont departed early, followed by the dangerous Hayley Matthews. Sophia Dunkley's 35 from 26 balls provided some resistance, but Amanda-Jade Wellington's dismissal of Dunkley and Jonassen's unbeaten 32 from 22 balls left Welsh Fire with a below-par total of 116 for 5.Capsey, named the Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her satisfaction with her performance, highlighting the importance of capitalizing on the pace in the powerplay and building partnerships. She also emphasized her improved calmness, which has contributed to her success.

Oval Invincibles, the two-time Hundred champions, kicked off the fourth season of the tournament with a dominant 45-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix. Paige Scholfield, batting at the top of the order in place of Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, led the charge with a sparkling 71.Scholfield and England's Alice Capsey formed a formidable partnership, putting on 90 runs for the second wicket. Capsey contributed 52 runs, and the duo shared 17 boundaries. Their explosive batting threatened to set a new record in the Hundred women's competition.However, a flurry of late wickets slowed down the Invincibles' progress. Nevertheless, they set a challenging target of 150 runs for Birmingham Phoenix.The Phoenix's chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets with just 32 runs on the board. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Birmingham local Amy Jones offered some resistance, but the Invincibles' bowling attack proved too strong.Australian legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets for just nine runs. Her economical spell helped restrict the Phoenix to 105 runs, securing a comfortable 45-run victory for the Invincibles.Scholfield, named the Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her delight at her performance. She credited her success to the support of Lauren Winfield-Hill and her trust in her own abilities.The Invincibles' victory sets the tone for the upcoming Hundred season, showcasing the exciting and competitive nature of the tournament.

Chris Silverwood, the former England head coach, has secured a new role as an assistant coach for the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred. Silverwood joins Tom Moody's coaching staff, replacing Azhar Mahmood, who departed to take up a full-time role with Pakistan.Silverwood's appointment comes after a brief stint with Sri Lanka, where he served as the head coach for two years. He resigned from that position following Sri Lanka's group-stage exit from the recent T20 World Cup, citing a desire to spend more time at home.Silverwood's return to English cricket marks his first coaching role since his dismissal as England head coach in early 2022. He will join Matt Walker and Jim Troughton as part of Moody's coaching staff for the Invincibles.Meanwhile, James Foster, who was previously the head coach of the Northern Superchargers, has also returned to the Hundred. He will serve as an assistant coach for the London Spirit, replacing Paul Collingwood, who is unavailable due to Test duty with England.The Spirit have also added Ali Maiden and Marc Broom to their women's coaching staff, which is led by Ashley Noffke. Maiden is a potential successor to Noffke, who is expected to step down at the end of the season.The most high-profile coaching appointment in the Hundred this year is Andrew Flintoff, who has replaced Foster as the head coach of the Superchargers. Flintoff will make his debut as a head coach in the Hundred opener against Trent Rockets on Friday night.