Perfection personified from Oval Invincibles as they kept pegging London Spirit back with wickets at frequent intervals, giving them no momentum in their innings. Spirit tried hard but didn't get so far, and in the end, it didn't even matter. They were up against a different class altogether, remaining stranded for most of the innings, apart from a few big overs and some fireworks at the top by Pepper. Adam Zampa was the tormentor-in-chief, taking four wickets and suffocating Spirit in the middle overs. Sam Curran and Tom Curran also held up their end, being cagey with the ball throughout. Given the form and mood in the camp, Invincibles are likely to romp towards victory unless Spirit creates panic upfront and produces their best display with the ball. I'll be back in a few minutes for the chase

18.2
W
TK Curran to Stone, OUT, Sam Billings leaps into the air and plucks it out of thin air; it's like a cheetah hunting its prey; jumped to his right and took a breathtaking catch; it's all about instincts, there can't be any second thoughts when going for a catch like this. It was a short ball whooshing away in the corridor, he wafted and the ball grazed the outside edge, Billings did the rest. Spirit are bundled out for 96

OP Stone c †Billings b TK Curran 7 (11m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 116.66

Scott: "Why is it called the hundred if they neither score 100 runs, or face 100 balls?" good food for thought

18.1
0
TK Curran to Stone, no run, Short ball sliding into the pads, away from leg stump

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | LS-M: 96/9 | RR: 5.33

  • Olly Stone7 (4b)
  • Sam Curran2.5-0-10-3
  • Adam Zampa3.5-0-17-4
17.5
W
SM Curran to Ellis, OUT, Finishes the over with a W. Yanks his front leg out of the way and takes the aerial route. Lustily swung away but cannot clear the ropes; man at deep midwicket hangs onto it brilliantly. Picks out Ferreira at deep midwicket who came charging in and swallowed it down his throat.

NT Ellis c Ferreira b SM Curran 7 (6m 7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

17.4
0
SM Curran to Ellis, no run, Short of a length, kicking and screaming away outside off, gets on top of the bounce and punched to cover
17.3
1
SM Curran to Stone, 1 run, Pitched up and room offered on the off-side, pummels it down the floor to long-off
17.3
1w
SM Curran to Stone, 1 wide, Flip it on a length and saw him trying a switch hit and bowled it too far away from the marker on off
17.2
1
SM Curran to Ellis, 1 run, Pace-off good length delivery on middle, waited for an eternity before slugging it down the ground and it lands short of long-off
17.1
0
SM Curran to Ellis, no run, Over the wicket, fired in quick at a length and he is unable to nudge it off his pads as the ball dies down quickly on the pitch

END OF OVER:
17 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | LS-M: 93/8 | RR: 5.47

  • Nathan Ellis6 (3b)
  • Olly Stone6 (3b)
  • Adam Zampa3.5-0-17-4
  • Tom Curran2.5-0-21-1
16.5
2
Zampa to Ellis, 2 runs, Shorter googly outside off, deft touch and slip gets his hand on it and that takes the pace off the ball, Zampa's incredible spell is through; he is the leading wicket-taker in this competition; sets high standards for him and lives up to the credo; 20 ball, 17 runs conceded and four wickets; an unblemished outing
16.4
4
Zampa to Ellis, FOUR, A fuller-legbreak on middle, eyes the midwicket region and chomps it away to the rope; what a beautiful shot; pounds the pull and gets a much-needed four
16.3
0
Zampa to Ellis, no run, Slides in and flights this on a lower trajectory at middle and leg, scuffed a drive back to the bowler
16.2
W
Zampa to Lawrence, OUT, Dangles a legbreak, full and follows him as she shimmies leg-side, whacks it back towards the bowler and Lawrence can't believe his luck, hands on his head, Zampa is a wily customer, watches the feet movement right till the last second and adjusts his line splendidly, excellent low-catch; Lawrence has to take the long walk back to the pavilion

DW Lawrence c & b Zampa 12 (27m 14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 85.71

16.1
1
Zampa to Stone, 1 run, Over the wicket, too full on middle, brings the broom out and tickles it fine, man at deep mops it up

END OF OVER:
16 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | LS-M: 86/7 | RR: 5.37

  • Olly Stone5 (2b)
  • Dan Lawrence12 (13b)
  • Tom Curran2.5-0-21-1
  • Nathan Sowter3.5-0-29-0
15.5
1
TK Curran to Stone, 1 run, Pace-off shortish ball outside off, deflected across the line towards mid-on
15.4
4
TK Curran to Stone, FOUR, Opens his account in style, short and wide, hammered away insolently to deep backward point, fielder with an enthusiastic slide and dive, effort goes in vain
15.3
W
TK Curran to Dawson, OUT, And this has been the story of the day; once again wicket falls down as soon as they try to accelerate but were getting back; it was short and slanted in at middle, tried to crunch a pull and found short midwicket who took a spellbinding catch; sharp reflexes; tumbling to his right and snaring it well. OI continue to dominate

LA Dawson c Ferreira b TK Curran 14 (8m 7b 1x4 1x6) SR: 200.00

15.2
6
TK Curran to Dawson, SIX, Slung down short on middle and it gets big on him, he swivels off the back-foot and just a flick but this sails over the ropes over Zampa's head at deep fine; looks like a top-edge that flew away;
15.1
1
TK Curran to Lawrence, 1 run, Over the wicket, short ball hoping in at leg, off the toe-end to short fine, gets a scampered single, shy at non-striker

END OF OVER:
15 | 7 Runs | LS-M: 74/6 | RR: 4.93

  • Liam Dawson8 (5b)
  • Dan Lawrence11 (12b)
  • Nathan Sowter3.5-0-29-0
  • Sam Curran1.5-0-7-2

Ram_stuck-at_Th: "When was the last time Russell played a destructive game changing white ball innings - can't really think of any. Can't ever see him do the antics of KP taking down Rashid's 5 for 30 runs. Even at his destructive best Russell wouldn't do that."

14.5
1
Sowter to Dawson, 1 run, And finishes the over with a flick using his fluid wrists towards midwicket and gallops across to the other end
14.4
4
Sowter to Dawson, FOUR, Welcome boundary! Prances down the track and leisurely lofts it over mid-off for a four; that's a proper textbook lofted drive, marvelously fashioned four
14.3
1
Sowter to Lawrence, 1 run, Pulled his length back and follows him as he steps leg-side, square cuts it to deep point
14.2
0
Sowter to Lawrence, no run, Length and curls away a wee bit outside off, blocked circumspectly off the backfoot