By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Kia Oval
Nicholas Pooran’s measured 65 not out from 41 balls set the platform for a Northern Superchargers win that handed the Oval Invincibles their first defeat of the season.
Jordan Clark, Matthew Potts and Adil Rashid took two wickets each as the Superchargers defended 145 at the Kia Oval despite Donavon Ferreira’s 49 from 24 balls giving them a brief scare.
The defending champions suffered their first home defeat since 2022 but with two wins from three games this season, they will remain confident of making the playoffs and defending their title.
Having been sent in to bat, Superchargers started strong with Matthew Short blazing some early boundaries before Spencer Johnson got Graham Clark to top-edge a hook shot straight to deep square leg.
Short then followed Clark back to the dugout when he top-edged Sam Curran to Donavon Ferreira at mid-wicket with the South African claiming his second catch of the innings.
Harry Brook was the next man dismissed when he mistimed a low full-toss from Adam Zampa straight to Jordan Cox at long-on as the visitors found themselves on 61/3 midway through their innings.
Adam Hose was the fourth wicket to fall when he was bowled by Saqib Mahmood before Ollie Robinson found Johnson at shorth third following his explosive 20 from 10 balls.
West Indian superstar Nicholas Pooran finished the innings with a maximum off Sam Curran as he finished unbeaten on 65 from 41 balls with the Superchargers setting the Invincibles a target of 146.
Dawid Malan began the chase by hitting a six over fine leg and into the second tier of the Galadari stand before Will Jacks chipped one to Short at mid-wicket as Jordan Clark got the Superchargers’ first strike.
Having just hit a couple of fours, Cox attempted to clear long-on against Adil Rashid but was caught by an excellent catch from Hose who did well to avoid the boundary cushions.
Mitchell Santner was next to strike for the Superchargers as he snuck one through Sam Billings’ defence and bowled the Invincibles captain with the home side still needing 90 runs at the halfway point in their innings.
It got even better for the visitors when Sam Curran sliced a ball towards long-on where Santner completed a full-length diving catch before Jordan Clark did the exact same at deep square-leg to remove Malan.
Tom Curran then skewed a lofted drive straight to Santner at deep cover before the very next ball, Nathan Sowter ran himself out whilst attempting to sneak a single to the bowler Potts.
Donavon Ferreira’s incredible 49 from just 24 balls kept the Invincibles’ hopes alive before eventually picking out deep point to give Potts his second wicket as Jordan Clark returned to close out the game.
