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Today marks one of those days where we love our work, a little more than what we do on an average day. This is Dwaipayan Mukherjee, signing off with Meeth Agrawal. We will see you soon!
Sam Curran (Player of the Match): We needed that strategic timeout. It felt like panic until then, but it came at the perfect moment. We managed those crucial three or four sixes, and that made all the difference. Credit to Trent Rockets’ Rooty for a solid knock and Linde for finishing well. Jordan Cox is in sensational form, but we know we can tighten up with the ball. We knew it was a batting wicket, and it’s great to secure victory with 10 balls to spare. There are still a few more games to go, starting with Headingley on Saturday against one of the top teams. Winning breeds confidence. You turn up every day knowing you’ve got belief, even if things don’t always go your way. We’ve got a couple of days before the next match. It’s been an intense schedule, so fingers crossed we keep this momentum going.
9:14 PM Local Time, 1:44 AM IST: Oval Invincibles (173 for 4) defeat Trent Rockets (171 for 7) by 6 wickets
Jordan Cox - 58* (32) | Rehan Ahmed - 2/25 Sam Curran - 54 (24) | Ben Sanderson - 1/21
A historic night. An absolute blast. This will go down as one of the most epic comebacks ever in the history of the competition. This fabric ain't cultivated everywhere. Southern Brave chased down 201 against the Manchester Originals in the Eliminator of this competition back in 2023. So there was a history of high scores getting scaled at this venue. The start had to be crucial.
Sam Cook made the ball talk as Muyeye's swings only met thin air for the first 4 balls before a leg-bye allowed the openers to scamper through for a strike rotation before Jacks got beaten to another out-swinger. That warranted Willey to prolong Cook's opening spell to a 10 ball operation. The first 9 balls only saw 3 runs being scored off Cook before his final ball got misfielded by Rehan Ahmed as the batters ran 3. Little did Sam Cook was fate had in store for him later in the chase.
It was a subdued start for the team to beat in the competition. Some laboured shots by Will Jacks suggested that it was extremely difficult to get going. Muyeye took the bull by its horns to lands some blows back to Rockets but the Rockets skipper has the final laugh, breaking the opening stand in the final ball of powerplay.
Rehan Ahmed came into the attack and almost immediately accounted for Will Jacks, who perished trying to score quicker. Stoinis quietly served his side with economical bowling right throughout the tournament. With plenty of action under his belt in recent months that include stints in the IPL and MLC, he slowly squeezed the life out of this chase. Or so it seemed at that point of time in the chase. He also winded Cox, which is something not many bowlers can claim, given Cox's exploits over the last few games.
George Linde put his plans right where they were supposed to be when he was finally introduced into the bowling attack in the 2nd half of the chase. It was a threat for his left arm spin to go against Sam Curran but he mitigated the risk skilfully.
102 runs were needed from 40 balls and Willey called for a time out. He came back into the attack and his 5 balls traveled for 19 runs. Sam Cook returned and started his new spell with 5 wides, a wide, a six, a boundary and another six which was a no ball. That free hit went for a maximum. 49 runs scored off 8 balls since the time out with a free hit to follow. 30 runs off Cook's 3 balls.
Cook's 32 runs in a single set was the largest ever in the history of the competition. 51 runs were needed from 30 balls. When Linde returned for his 2nd bowling essay, Sam Curran continued his onslaught - bringing up his half century off 22 balls. At one point, Sam Curran was on 7 from 12 balls, struggling to find any rhythm. He left the scene, scoring 47 runs from his next 11 balls.
Jordan Cox ensured that the home crowd were thrilled to bits. He brought up his half century off 30 balls as Rockets completely lost their wheels in what will go down as one of the biggest bottling jobs while defending a target that looked like a comfortable win. The best that they can do is forget what happened after the first 60 balls of this chase. Even Donovan Ferreira had his share of fun at the end.
We will let you catch your breath! Even we need that time.
17.4 Ben Sanderson to Jordan Cox, DONE AND DUSTED!!! A famous victory for Oval Invincibles as they chase down the second highest successful chase at the Oval in Men's Hundred history. Once again it's Jordan Cox who plays a stunning knock. Punches in the air to celebrate. Coming to the delivery, once again it was a nice yorker outside off, but Cox was quick to get on top of it and slice it in the gap at sweeper cover to beat the chasing fielder. A Comeback for the ages by the table toppers as they win by six wickets.
17.3 Ben Sanderson to Jordan Cox, FOUR!!! NICELY PLAYED! It was a perfect yorker outside off from Ben but Cox digs it out and slices it in the gap at sweeper covers.
17.2 Ben Sanderson to Sam Billings, full toss outside off, Billings drives it to mid off for a quick one. A direct hit at the non striker's end would have been done for Sam Billings.
Sam Billings batting at 6th position
Donovan Ferreira has been dismissed for 14 runs off 5 balls
17.1 Ben Sanderson to Donovan Ferreira, FINALLY SOME RESPITE FOR TRENT ROCKETS! Overpitched and just outside off, Ferreira clears his front leg and drills it hard to short covers. Stoinis there reacts quickly and takes a stunning catch. That was coming very very quick.
This is almost humiliating now. Who would have thought? This has been breathtaking, sublime and wonderful. We are at a loss of words.
17.0
16.5 Marcus Stoinis to Donovan Ferreira, ANOTHER ONE!!! Pace off delivery, full and in the slot. Ferreira reads it well, waits for it and slog sweeps it crackingly over deep mid wicket boundary and into the crowd.
16.4 Marcus Stoinis to Donovan Ferreira, Ferreira joins the party! A gamble from Stoinis to bowl the bouncer over the head. Ferreira waits and pulls it over deep square leg for a maximum.
Jordan Cox Scored 50 runs in 30 balls
16.3 Marcus Stoinis to Jordan Cox, a low full toss on the pads, flicked away to deep square for one. Cox brings up his FIFTY with that.
16.2 Marcus Stoinis to Jordan Cox, FOUR MORE!!! Pace off delivery, on a length on off, Cox reverse ramps it over short third for a boundary.
16.1 Marcus Stoinis to Jordan Cox, HUGE!!! Length ball on the stump line, Cox with his long levers swings it hard and massively over deep mid wicket for a maximum.
16.1 Marcus Stoinis to Jordan Cox, wide again! That looked harsh. Stoinis isn't happy. It was full and gets a bit of away swing and goes over the guideline.
16.1 Marcus Stoinis to Jordan Cox, a yorker outside off but has been called a WIDE!
33 runs needed from 20 balls : Rehan Ahmed becomes the first Rockets bowler to complete his full quota of deliveries. Oval Invincibles are showing all of us why they are among the absolute best in this tournament.
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