In a thrilling battle at The Kia Oval, the Oval Invincibles emerged victorious over the Southern Brave in a top-of-the-table clash, showcasing their title defense prowess. Tom Curran shone with the ball, claiming four crucial wickets, while his younger brother Sam contributed with two, limiting the Brave to 118 for eight.
The Chase began on a curious note, with Dawid Malan struggling to score off 10 consecutive dot balls and Chris Jordan bowling a maiden over. However, the partnership of Jordan Cox, recently called up to the England Test squad, and Sam Curran turned the tide with a blistering 58-run stand from just 27 deliveries.
James Vince was the standout performer for the Brave, scoring 52 off 39 balls, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Invincibles from securing a six-wicket victory and edging closer to the knockout stages.
Skipper Sam Curran continued to lead from the front, guiding the team to their fifth win in six games. Despite his stellar performance, it was Tom Curran who stole the limelight with his impressive bowling figures of 4 for 24. The crowd of 23,948 at The Kia Oval witnessed a thrilling contest as the Brave struggled to recover after losing early wickets.
The Invincibles’ bowlers were relentless, with Sam Curran celebrating early wickets and Tom Curran wreaking havoc with his hat-trick ball in the final over. The Brave fought back valiantly, with captain Vince and Kieron Pollard stitching together a crucial partnership before falling to Sam Curran’s sharp bowling.
In the chase, the Invincibles got off to a shaky start but found their rhythm with Sam Curran and Cox leading the charge. Cox remained unbeaten on 46 off 29 balls, steering his team across the finish line with 15 balls to spare.
Overall, it was a thrilling encounter that showcased the Invincibles’ title credentials and set the stage for an exciting run towards the knockout stages of the tournament. The battle between the top two teams in the table did not disappoint, delivering a spectacle for the fans at The Oval.
