Sam Curran played a big role with both ball and bat as Oval Invincibles beat Southern Brave; Northern Superchargers men moved into contention for an eliminator place after their rain-reduced match against Welsh Fire was abandoned just three balls into the hosts' reply
Thursday 8 August 2024 22:22, UK
Sam Curran's all-round showing helped Oval Invincibles to a six-wicket victory at home to Southern Brave in the men's top-of-the-table clash in The Hundred.
Tom Curran claimed four wickets and his younger brother Sam chipped in with two, to restrict Brave to 118-8 before a curious chase that saw Dawid Malan face 10 consecutive dot balls and Chris Jordan not concede a run from his first 11 deliveries.
Jordan Cox and Sam Curran eventually broke the shackles in a 58-run stand from 27 balls to usher the hosts over the line with 15 balls to spare.
James Vince was the only Brave batter who came to grips with the home attack, scoring 52 from 39 balls, as Invincibles moved a step closer to booking their place in the knockout stages.
Skipper Sam Curran has been central to a run of five wins in six games, and while he would claim a third successive player of the match award again, it was Tom who took the limelight with the ball with figures of 4-24 in front of a crowd of 23,948.
The visitors slipped to 31-4 as wickets fell too regularly around Vince and Sam Curran was unfurling his airplane celebration early when he bowled Alex Davies, before Tom found a regulation edge from Andre Fletcher through to Sam Billings.
Will Jacks bowled Leus du Plooy and Laurie Evans top-edged Adam Zampa to leave Brave immediately behind the game, but captain Vince set about hauling his side back into the contest, sharing a 58-run stand with Kieron Pollard, who edged Sam Curran to give Billings his third catch after managing 18 from 15 balls.
Tom Curran was on a hat-trick from the final ball of the innings, removing Jofra Archer and Akeal Hossein from successive balls, before Craig Overton just about avoided the field and saw the ball run away to the rope.
Jacks thumped the first ball of the reply for six, only to get a leading edge to Overton two balls later, before the chase lost all momentum. Malan did manage a heaved six before he simply could not locate the ball, eventually being well held by Archer at mid-on to depart for 14 from 31 balls.
But the in-form Sam Curran joined Cox and immediately set about putting the game to bed, the pair taking 23 from four Hosein deliveries to settle any nerves.
Hosein did get the former out eventually, but not before he added 35 from 18 balls, as Cox finished unbeaten on 46 from 29 balls.
"Huge win. The two form teams at the moment and a top-of-the-table clash. We knew we had to win this to give us the best chance of going straight through to Lord's [and reach the final].
"We have complemented each other really well with the ball this season. Towards the end we just had a swing and hope and it worked out.
"I'm really confident and enjoying the environment. I feel this team has got it right and hopefully we can do that for the rest of the tournament."
Northern Superchargers snuck into the top three of the men's competition in The Hundred after a rain-soaked trip to Cardiff ended in them sharing the points with Welsh Fire.
After rain had fallen for most of the day a small window opened for a 25-ball match, with Superchargers managing just 26-5 as they struggled to find their range.
Then, after just three balls were possible into Fire's chase, the rain returned, and the match was abandoned.
Nicholas Pooran drove David Willey for four from the first ball of the rain-reduced match, but it was a rare boundary as none of the Superchargers batters reached double figures on a tricky wicket following the rain.
Matt Short and Pooran fell to edges behind the wicket while Harry Brook hit the only other four of the innings before skying Haris Rauf into the deep.
Ben Stokes and Adam Hose fell from consecutive balls trying to force shots before Ollie Robinson carved the only six of the innings, from the 22nd ball, over cover off Rauf.
The Hundred continues on Friday with London Spirit hosting the Manchester Originals at Lord's. The women's game is due to start at 3pm followed by the men's game at 6.30pm, with coverage live on Sky Sports Cricket from 2.30pm.
Watch every match of the men's and women's competitions in The Hundred live on Sky Sports. Also stream with NOW.
