Oval Talking Points: Bravo Dwayne and Roy on the brink

The Cricketer look at the main talking points as Oval Invincibles beat Northern Superchargers at the Kia Oval

Movement That Inspires play of the day

Roelof van der Merwe kept Northern Superchargers in the contest with a wonderful catch to dismiss Jack Haynes from the 194th legal delivery of the match.

Haynes only needed to keep out David Wiese's penultimate ball but with mid-off up and sense an opportunity to cement the victory.

But he didn't account for Van der Merwe's athleticism - he had already taken a fine grab to get rid of Hilton Cartwright - who flung himself full length to his right and came up with the ball.

Ultimately, it was in vain as Faf du Plessis put down Tom Curran to deliver victory for the hosts. But it was a moment to savour from the Dutchman.

Leadership That Inspires

Du Plessis had little choice but to deploy Dwayne Bravo before the final two sets, with the Invincibles needing just 23 to win.

The West Indian has built a career on being a force at the sharp end of the innings, but on this occasion, he was being required to lay the platform for a late victory.

And his captain could hardly have asked for more. Bravo conceded just two from the opening three deliveries before a slower ball bowled the dangerman Sam Curran.

Haynes squeezed two off the final ball of the set, which produced just four runs, and put the Superchargers right back into the contest.

^{Ben Raine celebrates dismissing Jason Roy (Julian Finney/Getty Images)}

Oh boy, Roy

Matt Parkinson. Chris Jordan. George Garton. A list, not just of England's T20 lower order, but those with a better batting average than Jason Roy in this year's men's Hundred.

Even the captaincy couldn't change the record for Roy. Leading the side in the absence of Sam Billings, this was surely the moment to recapture some form.

Having lasted a single delivery in the opening game against London Spirit, Roy at least had the decency to double up against Northern Superchargers, squeezing out two balls before clunking one to Bravo at mid-on.

Kevin Pietersen wants England to back Roy, a World Cup winner from 2019, and assure him of a place in the T20I squad going to Australia.

But with the likes of Will Smeed, The Hundred's maiden centurion, Will Jacks and the T20 Blast MVP James Vince hitting form and viable candidates to open there is an active race to accompany Jonny Bairstow.

Sam Curran helped Oval Invincibles home (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Sting in the tail

What cricket gives with one hand, it takes away with the other.

Adam Lyth looked bound for the second Hundred ton in as many days, after Smeed's heroics for Birmingham Phoenix.

He struck the fastest fifty in the competition off 17 balls and would eventually reach 79 before being caught by Haynes off Matt Milnes as Worcestershire combined with Kent to secure a much-needed breakthrough.

As the Invincibles took control in the chase, the Superchargers could ill-afford a single mistake.

With 47 needed off 25 balls, Curran smashed the ball over long-on to reduce the equation. He went again via a Bravo slower ball, miscuing the ball high into the blue south London sky.

Lyth nestled underneath it, spilt the first chance and couldn't cling on to the rebound.

Curran them compounded the error with a second maximum of the set via a blast straight down the ground.

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