By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Kia Oval
Sam Curran and Tom Curran took six wickets between them as the Invincibles restricted the Southern Brave to 118 before the home side completed the chase with six wickets and 15 balls still remaining.
Sam Curran’s 36 from 18 balls saw him claim the player of the match award as England’s newest test call-up Jordan Cox made 46 not out and was the main contributor in the run chase.
The reigning champions are now clear two points clear at the top of the table and are looking good to defend their title come a possible final next Sunday.
The tournament’s inaugural champions, Southern Brave are now in second place and seem to be the main opposition to the Invincibles’ retaining the trophy.
Oval Invincibles chose to field at the toss and having beaten the bat on several occasions, they were eventually rewarded when Sam Curran knocked over Alex Davies’ off stump to get the first wicket.
Andre Fletcher was next to fall when Tom Curran found his outside edge before South African batter Leus du Plooy was bowled by Will Jacks.
After crunching a boundary through the covers, Laurie Evans top-edged a sweep that was falling safe but for Johnson’s diving catch at short fine leg that put the Brave on 38 for 4 halfway through the innings.
Kieran Pollard was then caught behind from the bowling of Sam Curran before Southern Brave’s captain James Vince edged behind to Tom Curran just after reaching his half century.
A couple of late strikes from Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan closed out the first innings with the Oval Invincibles needing 119 runs for victory.
There was certainly no waiting around when Jacks hit Craig Overton over the offside for a six to start the innings before he leading edged to Vince at cover just two balls later.
Dawid Malan continued to struggle at the other end making just one run from his last 15 balls before he picked out Jofra Archer at mid-off as the Invincibles still needed 76 midway through the run chase.
Then an important 58 run partnership for the third wicket lifted the Invincibles out of a tricky situation before Sam Curran was dismissed by Akeal Hosein for a quickfire 35 from 18 balls.
With the result a formality, Invincibles’ captain Sam Billings was gloved behind from the bowling of Tymal Mills before Donavon Ferreira finished the game with a six as Jordan Cox remained 46 not out at the other end.
