Oval Invincibles secured their place in the knockout rounds of The Hundred with a dominant nine-wicket victory over London Spirit at The Kia Oval. Jordan Cox, who was recently selected for the England Men’s Test team, played a pivotal role in the win, smashing an unbeaten 61 off just 30 balls.
The Spirit, who were already eliminated from contention, struggled to post a competitive total, managing only 96 runs in their first innings. Michael Pepper provided a bright start with a quickfire 27, but his dismissal triggered a collapse that saw Spirit lose five wickets for just 52 runs.
Adam Zampa, who has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, continued his fine run with figures of 4 for 17. Ollie Stone, another England Men’s squad member, also bowled well, conceding just 16 runs from his four overs.
Invincibles’ chase was never in doubt, with Cox leading the charge from the outset. The 21-year-old opener struck seven fours and two sixes, including the winning blow that sealed the victory with 37 balls to spare.
The win means Sam Billings’ side, who have won six of their seven games, are guaranteed a place in the top three of the men’s competition. Their final game against Trent Rockets will determine whether they will advance directly to The Hundred Final on August 18 or play in The Hundred Eliminator the day before.
