Invincibles win third successive Men’s Hundred title with victory over Rockets

Oval Invincibles romped to a third Hundred title in as many years with a spectacular 26-run victory over Trent Rockets.

Will Jacks starred with the bat, alongside the competition’s leading run-scorer Jordan Cox, as the Invincibles set an imposing 169 to win.

A solid start to the chase was turned on its head when Nathan Sowter took 3-3 in a ten-ball spell that ripped apart the Rockets and all but sealed victory for the London-based side. Marcus Stoinis got his side close, but they were always behind the eight-ball.

Trent Rockets made a couple of changes after last night’s rain-affected game against the Northern Superchargers. A broken thumb kept Sam Cook out of the game and allowed Ben Sanderson a start, while Lockie Ferguson was replaced just fifteen minutes before the start by Dillon Pennington, after going down in the warm-up.

Adam Zampa was brought in for the Invincibles with Rashid Khan still away at the Asia Cup. He replaced Miles Hammond in their only change from Monday’s victory over London Spirit.

Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye opened the batting and enjoyed a good start, but Pennington nicked the Kent star off with his first ball of the competition. A little extra bounce got Muyeye in trouble, as he feathered an edge through to Ben Cox.

The opener raced towards his fifty, partnering well with Jordan Cox. Together, they found the boundary with ease, and their only slip-up was when Jacks was caught at deep midwicket. However, replays showed the full toss was above waist height, and a cheer rippled around the ground when the umpire raised his arm. He made the most of his reprise, punishing the Australian to the boundary off the free hit. His fifty came off 32 deliveries as he launched a 91m six into the grandstand.

Jordan Cox follows suit with another monstrous six, but Rehan Ahmed got him next ball. Looking to swing hard again, Cox toppled over, but not before edging behind to his namesake, Ben.

Now with Sam Curran playing second fiddle, Jacks continued his onslaught, battering the Rockets’ bowlers around the park. The opener eventually fell for 72 off 40, holing out off Stoinis.

The Invincibles were unable to make use of the platform set for them, with both Currans falling without doing much damage in the final few balls.

Pennington was the only Rockets’ bowler to escape without too damaging figures, while Stoinis’ brace of wickets cost him 40 runs.

The Rockets started watchfully, getting to 32 at the end of the powerplay, but, importantly, without losing a wicket. Banton found the boundary on a number of occasions, while Root nudged his way to double figures.

Despite Zampa being the more discussed leggie, it was Sowter who grabbed the headlines. His first ten balls saw him pick up three huge wickets: Root, Rehan and Banton to decimate the Rockets.

The two openers were both caught looking to go down the ground, while Sowter bowled Rehan for a two-ball duck.

David Willey and Stoinis started to rebuild together, but the captain was soon gone due to a sharp piece of work by Sam Billings. Zampa threw a wide one outside off and Willey toppled forward, looking to swipe the ball into the leg-side, allowing Billings to whip off the bails.

George Linde came and went quickly, too, but Stoinis kept the Rockets’ hopes alive, however small they were. Three sixes off a Tom Curran set left 48 to win from the final 15, with Stoinis on 46*, but a sharp piece of fielding by Saqib Mahmood off his own bowling ran Ross Whiteley out for 14.

The Australian brought up his fifty a few deliveries later, carving Sam Curran over point for successive boundaries, but in the end the Rockets finished 26 runs short. Mahmood finished it off in style, trapping Stoinis in front with the final ball of the match and sealing the Invincibles’ three-peat.