The 22nd game of Men's Hundred 2024 was between two heavyweights of the competition, Southern Brave and Oval Invincibles, here at The Kia Oval. With the tournament inching closer toward the knockout stages, this was a top-of-the-table clash both teams badly needed to win. Oval Invincibles won by six wickets—an outcome that confirmed their position but more importantly put the stamp of title-winning credentials all over it.
Thanks to Tom Curran's fine four-wicket haul, backed by the pivotal partnership between Jordan Cox and Sam Curran, it was a tricky total that the Invincibles were able to chase down with 15 balls to spare. The win, in front of a raucous crowd, was one which showed again the dominance of the Invincibles and took them one step closer towards Lord's. In this in-depth match analysis, we get into the moments of action and individual brilliance and what this result means for the prospects of both teams moving forward into Men's Hundred 2024.
First Innings: Southern Brave Struggles
Brave Batting Performance
The innings of Southern Brave began well but fell apart because of some really disciplined bowling backed up by wickets at the beginning. There was no letting up by Tom Curran and the Invincibles bowling attack, who limited the Brave to a meager total. Only James Vince showed a bit of fight at the top with a well-constructed 52 off 39 balls. His innings was marked by careful shot selection and an effort to anchor the innings, but he got little support from his colleagues.
A crucial partnership of 58 between Vince and Kieron Pollard became the talking point of Brave's innings. The big-hitting Pollard could only contribute 18 from 15 balls as he fell to Curran. After being reduced to 43 for 4, this partnership did briefly threaten to bring Southern Brave back into the game but with wickets falling at regular intervals, the innings never really gained momentum.
Tom Curran's Bowling Masterclass
Tom Curran emerged as the outstanding performer with his 4 for 24, ripping through Southern Brave's batting lineup. His control and variation of pace had the Brave batters scratching for runs. Curran struck when it mattered, and his wickets for runs, including those of Jofra Archer and Akeal Hosein on successive deliveries, put Southern Brave on the back foot. While the latter fell just short of a hat-trick, his efforts resulted in innings containment to 118 for 8 for the Brave.
Sam Curran and Adam Zampa were brilliant supporters, as Sam picked up two important wickets, while Zampa built pressure by bowling economically. Such collective bowling set up a relatively straightforward chase for the Invincibles.
Second Innings: Oval Invincibles' Chase
The Chase Begins: Early Setbacks
Oval Invincibles' chase got off to a mixed start. After Will Jacks' statement six off the first ball, he was out shortly after by Craig Overton, and what had promised much initially started to drag. The normally relentless Dawid Malan groped around for rhythm and was tied down to an infuriating spell of 10 consecutive dot balls. His eventual dismissal for 14 from 31 balls added some pressure on the Invincibles, but they had depth in their batting lineup.
Breaking the Shackles: Cox and Curran Partnership
The turning point came when Jordan Cox and Sam Curran joined forces at the crease. Their partnership was a mix of aggression and smart cricket, adding 58 runs from 27 balls. Sam Curran's 35 off 18 balls featured those essential boundaries that helped release the pressure and turn the game in favour of the Invincibles. While Cox played a measured innings to be left undefeated on 46 off 29 balls, seeing his team through.
It is then that the Curran-Cox partnership broke the shackles on Southern Brave's hopes of a comeback, and it showed their calculative aggression and the skill to perform under pressure that would be a keynote in the latter end of the tournament.
Closing out the Game
Though the Invincibles lost Sam Curran in the chase, things were well within control, and Cox and Curran never looked back in their hounding act. They sailed through the target with 15 balls to spare and thus won the game comprehensively.
Post-Match Analysis
Key Performances
The game was highlighted by standout performances, with 4 for 24 earning Tom Curran the Player of the Match. His bowling, especially in powerplay and death overs, was the one to bring down the total to a score so chaseable by Southern Brave. Sam Curran once again showed his caliber as an all-rounder in the game by contributing with the ball and also in the chase. The calm and composed innings at the end from Jordan Cox proved pivotal as he guided his team to victory, playing a mature innings.
Captain's Comments
The Invincibles' captain, Sam Curran, praised his team for a good job done, particularly reverting to the bowling unit and the crucial Cox-Curran partnership. He said all that mattered was holding on to this winning run as they approached the business end of the tournament. Southern Brave captain James Vince said they lost out on opportunities and needed to make up for it fast in the upcoming matches.
What it Means for the Tournament
Oval Invincibles' Road to the Knockouts
The win has consolidated Oval Invincibles' position at the top of the table, bringing them one step closer to a direct entry into the final to be played at Lord's. Their balanced team and consistent performances stand them in good stead to become champions once again.
Is There a Way Forward for Southern Brave?
This defeat does not remove Southern Brave from contention, but it has to sort out its inconsistent batting and perform better while under pressure. Its upcoming matches will be crucial in deciding whether the team could emerge and go on to fight for title places.
Conclusion
The 22nd match of Men's Hundred 2024, Southern Brave vs Oval Invincibles, was all that high-quality cricket is supposed to look like. The Oval Invincibles, led by the exquisite Curran brothers, showed through as strong and resilient to seal that really important victory which pushed them one step closer toward the knockout stages. All such performances shall be the ones instrumental in capturing the eventual champions once all the dust settles in the tournament. Southern Brave need to dust themselves up fast and improve upon the lacunae if they have to make it deep into this year's competition. Stay tuned for more thrilling matches as the Men's Hundred 2024 continues to unfold.
