Death, taxes, and the Oval Invincibles winning the men's hundred are the only things that are certain in this world. For three seasons in a row, they have won the group stage and advanced straight to the Lord's final, and every night has concluded with Sam Billings raising the golden "H" trophy. Following two close finals, this was a crushing defeat.
The Invincibles' greatest strength has been consistency, and three of their regular suspects delivered when it counted: Will Jacks and Jordan Cox each contributed 87 runs off 55 balls to support their 168-run total, while Nathan Sowter, who is their livewire, put an end to the chase with three wickets in his first seven balls. Billings and coach Tom Moody have been with them since the beginning, as have the other three.
In short-form leagues, they were one of only a few teams to accomplish a "three-peat," and they did it effortlessly. Even if they have not lived up to their name, the Invincibles' three-season record of 21 victories, one draw, and just five losses is still impressive. In an unpredictable format, they have turned into a profitable machine.
The Invincibles might have achieved too much success for their own good. With new investors joining the Hundred, the ECB is planning a squad "reset" for next year, akin to the IPL's mega-auction. The 'any given Sunday' attitude is at the heart of short-form cricket, and on any given Sunday, the Invincibles are typically winning.
With one exception, England players with international experience form the foundation of the Invincibles. Journeyman legspinner Sowter questioned whether his career was gone when Middlesex cut him three years ago, but he has now emerged as an unexpected key member of the Invincibles attack and kept his greatest showing of the year for the biggest stage.
When Sowter entered the attack, the Rockets were 35 for 0 after 30 balls, and Joe Root and Tom Banton were having trouble staying on the ball. They were 38 for 3 after ten balls: Banton picked out long-off, Root holed out to long-on, and Rehan Ahmed left for a second-ball duck after missing a straight one. Sowter added a superb catch at deep backward square leg to his night's efforts and celebrated each wicket with a loud cheer.
Adam Zampa, who had traveled 20,000 miles round-trip for 20 balls from Australia especially for the final, finished with the usual economical stats of 1 for 21. Billings effectively stumped David Willey, but that did not stop his legspin partner from outperforming him.
Cox and Jacks lay the groundwork
Jacks became the first player to reach 1,000 runs for the Invincibles by smashing Willey through mid-off for four off the opening ball of the final and then slicing the third through the off-side ring. After three early boundaries, his opening partner, Tawanda Muyeye, faltered, but his removal brought in Cox, the tournament's top run scorer, at No. 3.Cox was immediately up and running with two rasping cuts, and he has been in incredible form this month. Jack was eager to use his life on 28 by reverse-sweeping Rehan for four runs before blasting him into the upper tier of the Grandstand. The full toss to midwicket was considered a no-ball on height.
Jack saw his opportunity to put his foot down, but Cox belted Rehan for six more before toe-ending him from behind. After another barrage of boundaries, he eventually fell for 72 off 41. The Invincibles were unusually quiet in the closing stages, but his 25 off the final 20 just highlighted the caliber of Jacks and Cox's strokeplay.
Jack saw his opportunity to put his foot down, but Cox belted Rehan for six more before toe-ending him from behind. After another barrage of boundaries, he eventually fell for 72 off 41. The Invincibles were unusually quiet in the closing stages, but his 25 off the final 20 just highlighted the caliber of Jacks and Cox's strokeplay.
Is Nottingham experiencing a plague outbreak? When it comes to injuries, Andy Flower's team has had no success. They lost two seamers in the 24 hours leading up to the final: Lockie Ferguson, whose hamstring went during the warm-ups, and Sam Cook, who broke a thumb when Dan Lawrence slapped him back in the Eliminator. Adam Hose, Tom Alsop, and Max Holden were already gone.
With only twenty minutes' notice, Dillon Pennington made his debut and scored with his first ball, grinning wryly as Muyeye edged a short, wide one behind. The Rockets' worst performance was 1 for 23 from 20, but their misfortune did not end there. George Linde was unable to finish his allocation after breaking a finger while trying to make a return catch off Cox.
With five sixes in his innings of 64 off 38 balls, Marcus tried his hardest to keep the chase going, but the asking rate got out of the Rockets' grasp. Saqib Mahmood trapped his leg before the wicket to secure the Invincibles' third consecutive crown, which they ostensibly needed to win off the penultimate ball.
With five sixes in his innings of 64 off 38 balls, Marcus tried his hardest to keep the chase going, but the asking rate got out of the Rockets' grasp. Saqib Mahmood trapped his leg before the wicket to secure the Invincibles' third consecutive crown, which they ostensibly needed to win off the penultimate ball.