The Oval Invincibles defeated the Welsh Fire by 10 runs in an exciting match in Cardiff. The Invincibles' exceptional bowling team successfully defeated the Fire, with the hosts never attempting to match their modest total. Leg-spinners Nathan Sowter and Adam Zampa starred for the defending champions, earning their second Meerkat Match Hero award in as many games.
Asked to bat by Welsh Fire captain Tom Abell, the Invincibles lost Dawid Malan almost immediately as he flicked David Willey to midwicket. Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye performed well in the powerplay, but the Welsh Fire's seam arsenal dominated. Jacks was defeated by Josh Little and Mason Crane on the long square leg boundary. Jake Ball and Willey removed Sam Billings and Muyeye respectively, leaving the Invincibles struggling at 58 for 4 at the halfway mark.
Donovan Ferreira and Sam Curran provided some resistance against the Fire onslaught, but the Invincibles struggled to get going, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Defending 113 was a tough task, and Jonny Bairstow was dropped on four by Harrison Ward off Saqib Mahmood's bowling. Australian Spencer Johnson cleaned up Bairstow a couple of balls later.
Zampa maintained his strong form for the Invincibles, taking wickets of Abell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Willey, while Sowter removed Glenn Phillips and Luke Wells. David Payne and Crane took the game to the final few balls, but Curran held his nerve to secure the win.