LONDON — The Oval Invincibles delivered a crushing performance at Lord's, bowling out London Spirit for a mere 80 runs—the second-lowest men's team total in The Hundred's history—before cruising to a six-wicket victory with 35 balls to spare.
A Spirited Collapse
London Spirit's innings unraveled spectacularly after being put into bat, with only three batters reaching double figures. Openers Zak Crawley (9) and Adam Rossington (5) fell early to the pace of Spencer Johnson (2/12) and spin of Nathan Sowter (3/14), setting the tone for a disastrous outing. "We just kept losing wickets in clusters," admitted Spirit captain Dan Lawrence. "No partnerships, no momentum—it was a day to forget."
Key Moments of the Collapse
- Powerplay Woes: Spirit limped to 28/3 after 25 balls, their worst start this season.
- Sowter's Spin Web: The leg-spinner dismantled the middle order, including Lawrence (7) and Matthew Wade (4).
- Tail-End Fold: The last five wickets fell for just 12 runs in 14 deliveries.
Invincibles' Clinical Chase
Chasing 81, Invincibles opener Will Jacks (27 off 18) launched a blistering assault, smashing three sixes before falling to Nathan Ellis. Jordan Cox (20*) and Sam Curran (15*) then guided the team home effortlessly. "We wanted to make a statement," said Curran. "Bowling them out for 80 at Lord's? That’s special."
Records Tumble
Spirit's total of 80 is now the second-lowest in men's Hundred history, trailing only Birmingham Phoenix's 87 in 2021. The Invincibles' bowling figures were equally historic:
- Sowter's 3/14: Best bowling by an Invincibles spinner in The Hundred.
- Team Economy: Just 6.30 runs per over—the lowest conceded by Invincibles in the tournament.
Post-Match Reactions
Spirit coach Shane Watson lamented the batting display: "No excuses. We didn’t adapt to the conditions or their bowlers’ plans." Invincibles skipper Sam Billings praised his attack: "Sowter and Johnson were world-class. That’s the benchmark now."
Looking Ahead
The win propels Invincibles to third in the table, while Spirit languish in seventh. With playoffs looming, Spirit must regroup quickly. As Lawrence put it: "This hurts, but we’ve got to front up next game."
The Hundred continues to deliver drama, and this match—a masterclass in bowling dominance—will be remembered as one of its most one-sided contests.