Oval Invincibles keep knockout hopes alive

The win lifts Invincibles to joint third in the table, with a crucial final game against Manchester Originals to come on Wednesday

Lord's: London Spirit 122-7, Oval Invincibles 124-4 - Oval Invincibles win by six wickets

Scorecard

Sam Curran starred with 3 for 16 to reignite Oval Invincibles' hopes in the men's Hundred as they triumphed by six wickets in their derby clash against London Spirit at Lord's.

Curran produced his best figures in the tournament – a miserly display that was matched by his brother Tom, who went wicketless but also conceded only 16 to ensure the home side were restricted to 122 for 7.

That never looked a defendable total and Will Jacks struck a buoyant 54 from 38 balls as Invincibles sealed victory with 14 balls to spare, taking revenge for their three-run loss to Spirit at the start of the competition.

The win lifts Invincibles to joint third in the table, with a crucial final game against Manchester Originals to come on Wednesday, while Spirit will still clinch qualification if they beat Birmingham Phoenix a day earlier.

Having opted to bat, Spirit made a stuttering start as Ben McDermott swung and missed Peter Hatzoglou’s first legitimate Hundred ball to depart without scoring and Josh Inglis heaved Matt Milnes into the hands of deep square leg.

Adam Rossington (36) gave the innings some impetus with successive boundaries off Milnes and then slammed Hatzoglou over the top for a maximum.

However, once Sam Curran had trapped Rossington leg before shuffling across, the visitors began to turn the screw and two wickets in as many deliveries from Jacks reduced Spirit to 67 for 5.

^{London Spirit were well beaten at Lord's (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

Milnes held a spectacular flying one-handed catch at point to dismiss Dan Lawrence before Jacks neatly deflected Ravi Bopara's drive onto the stumps to snare the prize scalp of Eoin Morgan, run out for five.

Jordan Thompson (27) threw the bat as he and Bopara staged a mini-recovery with their stand of 43 from 31, but Sam Curran returned to remove both and tight death bowling ensured the Invincibles would chase a modest target.

With Jason Roy sidelined by a back strain, Jordan Cox moved up to open, but he was required to play only a supporting role as Jacks immediately set about the Spirit bowling.

Mason Crane's first two deliveries both disappeared over the fence – the second of them narrowly evading the clutches of Bopara, who then put down a chance coming in from the boundary when Jacks swept Lawrence.

Although Liam Dawson made the breakthrough with a ball that turned to bowl Cox, it was not enough to stem the flow of runs as Jacks joined forces with Rilee Roussouw (24) in a partnership of 58.

Both were eventually caught in the deep, paving the way for the Currans to resume centre stage and, although Sam was deftly caught by Crane on the boundary, Tom struck a brisk 19 not out before Sam Billings edged Thompson for four to confirm victory.

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