Sam Curran and Jordan Cox ensure an exciting Invincibles victory over the Superchargers
Sam Curran made his presence felt both with the bat and the ball as in-form Jordan Cox guided Oval Invincibles to victory in their top-of-the-table Men’s Hundred match, fighting off an exciting comeback from Northern Superchargers by nine runs.
When the Superchargers fell to 23 for 2, Curran took a brilliant catch and a wicket as the league-leading Invincibles made a dominant 185 for 5. Curran then hit 24 off 12 balls late in the game. Tom Banton, the Superchargers’ opener, scored an incredible 81 off only 43 balls to help them recover; at 146 for 3 after 75 balls, they were favorites needing 40.
With Gus Atkinson defending 19 off the final set of five balls, left-arm seamer Curran finished with 2 for 31 from 20 balls after returning to bowl. Banton was eventually caught at deep midwicket by a diving Ross Whiteley.
Losing their first game in four, the Superchargers finished with a score of 176 for 8. The Invincibles won their third game in a row to solidify their lead over the field by seven points. Unbeaten Jordan Cox led the team with 73 points off of 38 shots.
For the Invincibles, international Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa smacked six sixes in a fun 46 off 22.
Spencer Johnson, an Australian quick, had only given up one run in an extraordinary 20-ball stretch during their victory over Manchester Originals on Tuesday at home, but here he gave up five runs off his first delivery, including a wide, to open the visiting defense. His final score was 1 for 36.
Reece Topley’s full toss was the first ball of the match when it was flicked by Jason Roy down deep backward square-leg’s throat.
Will Jacks, Klaasen’s opening partner, got things started with a sharp 40 before being caught by Callum Parkinson, leaving Klaasen at 69 for 2 after 44 balls.
Despite not hitting a four, Klaasen was just as devastating today as when he blasted a sizzling 60 against the Originals.
The score increased from 85 for 2 after 60 overs to 104 for 2 after 65, with pacer Brydon Carse taking the brunt of it, giving up three sixes in five balls. The other two went high over backward square-legged, while the first went straight.
Klaasen then miscued to long-on, similar to Jacks. Adil Rashid struck this time. But with 124 for 3 after 74, the Invincibles were on track for a commanding total.
Cox reached 50 off 30 balls, although for the majority of this innings, he was the supporting actor. Before assuming the lead role at the conclusion, he rotated the strike effectively.
The Superchargers’ best bowler was captain Wayne Parnell, who finished with 2 for 29 while only missing out on a late hat-trick after getting rid of Curran and Ross Whiteley by being caught and bowled.
Then, as the hosts stumbled, Curran got England white-ball teammate Harry Brook caught behind cutting for just four runs after taking a fantastic catch back-peddling from mid-on to assist Atkinson in getting rid of Matt Short.
After 50 balls, the score had increased to 82 for 2 thanks to a 57-stand between Banton and Adam Hose.
Hose nearly immediately hammered Nathan Sowter’s leg-spin to long-on to fall for 45, but Banton persisted. After hitting 50 after 30 balls, he reversed his next Sowter pitch for a six over the covers.
The Superchargers then set out on their course. However, Johnson took Saif Zaib out of the game, Curran came back to strike and pressure, and Atkinson struck twice in the final five to catch Carse and Rashid.