Oval Invincibles accomplish The Hundred treble

Oval Invincibles have accomplished the Hundred treble. On Sunday night, they complete a hat-trick of Hundred titles with a 26-run win over Trent Rockets, riding on Will Jacks’ boisterous 72 and Nathan Sowter’s match-defining spell of 3-25.

Asked to bat, Invincibles got the start the doctor ordered. Jacks blazed off the blocks, smashing seven fours and four sixes in a 41-ball stay, while Jordan Cox scored swiftly too at the other end with 40 off 28. The duo applied pressure on the opposition after the early exit of Tawanda Muyeye. When Rehan Ahmed scissored the partnership, it had been worth 87 runs off 55 deliveries.

Jacks carried on in an aggressive vein despite the dismissal, linking up with Sam Curran to push them forward by taking 16 off a set from David Willey. However, only 25 runs came off the last 20 deliveries as Rockets tightened the noose, despite one set of five in that from Marcus Stoinis leaking 15.

Tom Banton kickstarted the chase off by taking boundaries off Jason Beherendorff but Saqib Mahmood and Sam Curran dovetailed to keep Rockets to just 32/0 in the PowerPlay. Spin from both ends worked like a charm when Joe Root attempted to up the ante against Sowter. The England international found Jacks at long-on with his attempted big hit which ended his cagey stay of 10 from 13. Sowter bowled 10 deliveries in this set and struck two more times – castling Rehan Ahmed and having Banton caught at long-on to jackhammer the Rockets to 37/3.