Summary

  • The Hundred: London Spirit v Oval Invincibles, Lord's

  • Defending champions Invincibles chase down 81 with 31 balls to spare to win by six wickets

  • Spirit dismissed for 80 - second lowest score in men's competition

  • Rashid Khan and Sam Curran star in taking three wickets each

  • Wednesday's double header - Manchester Originals v Southern Brave at Emirates Old Trafford

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Sam Drury

  1. Goodbye

    Honours even across the London double-header at Lord's as both 2024 champions start with a victory.

    London Spirit were triumphant in the women's competition while Oval Invincibles took this fixture - have a read of Sam Drury's report to find out how Sam Billings' side dominated the opening match of the competition.

    We're back tomorrow with another double-header as Manchester Orignals take on Southern Brave - the women's match starts at 15:00 BST with the men's game at 18:30.

    We'll see you then.

  2. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Two

    What makes Rashid Khan challenging to face is the pace that he bowls at. He is always on you much quicker than you think. You try to get yourself into a position to prepare but he was all over everyone today.

    The ball is so flat and quick out of his hand, and many batters struggled to pick him up.

  3. 'An honour to play for this team'

    Oval Invincibles leg-spin bowler Rashid Khan: "Really happy with the performance today. I have had a long break from cricket but I am really happy with how today went."

    On his bowling skills: "It is always important to bring fresh skills. You have to hit the right area consistently and that was always in my mind."

    On playing for the Invincibles: "It is an honour to play for this team. They are the reigning champions two years in a row. I am looking forward to this whole experience and making it three in a row.

    "You do enjoy it when someone doesn't pick you well and bowling different deliveries. I just focus on hitting the right area back-to-back."

  4. Kieran Parmley
    Cricviz analyst

    Only one men's Hundred match has had zero sixes - Originals vs Phoenix in 2021.

    This is the only completed men's match with just one six hit.

  5. Oval Invincibles all-rounder Sam Curran speaking after their victory: "We got off to a great start. Losing the toss, we were going to bat first as well. The guys bowled well. Having Rashid Khan on our side is special, he is the best in the world.

    On his performance: "The wicket was changing. I added some change ups to my game. The batters keep coming so you have to try something funky. There are guys I target, and guys I definitely won't be targeting those to! Being in an environment where you can experiment is fun and so important.

    On the importance of a win: "It is huge. It is a tournament where if you lose early, it is hard to catch up. We thought about net run-rate as well. We don't look too far ahead and we will go again on Saturday."

  6. Kieran Parmley
    Cricviz analyst

    In Hundred Men's history, only one bowler has bowled their full quota and returned more economical figures in a defeat than Liam Dawson's figures of 2-9 today.

    Adam Milne registered 2-8 vs Southern Brave back in 2021.

  7. 'We did what we needed'

    Oval Invincible batter Will Jacks speaking after his team's victory: "A brilliant start. We weren't sure what to expect. I'm not sure how to sum the game up but we did what we needed.

    On the wicket: "It wasn't bouncing like I expected. We figured that early, which is something we do well as a team, we communicate.

    On the halfway team talk: "Some of the guys wanted to smash it for net run-rate but I wanted to look after the game first. Once we got through the first 25 balls we felt in control.

    On Rashid Khan's performance: "Hopefully that is just a normal day for him. We are really looking forward to having him in our team."

  8. Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Two

    Hopefully we will see plenty more of those shots over the next few weeks, Donovan Ferreira can hit a mighty stroke.

    This Invincibles team looks stronger than ever.

  9. 6 runs

    Invincibles win by six wickets
    Breaking

    Donovan Ferreira finishes the match with a six!

    A single and a wide bring Invincibles within six of victory, and after facing one dot ball Ferreira heaves Luke Wood's slower ball over mid-wicket to win with 31 balls to spare.

    The first six of the match, after the women's match broke a record for sixes in the competition.

    An win for the 2024 champions, starting their title defence in style.

  10. Invincibles 73-4

    8 runs needed

    A first four for Sam Billings, working Luke Wood off his hip through fine leg.

    Required runs in single figures now...

  11. Invincibles 69-4

    12 runs needed

    South African batter Donovan Ferreira is the next man in.

    He takes two out in mid-wicket, then takes a single to long-off.

  12. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Two

    That ball bounced so low. Curran was looking to hack it across the line but didn't manage to make any contact.

    Generally, these Invincible players understand the pitches, whereas the London Spirit players may take a little bit more time to read them.

  13. wicket

    WICKET

    S Curran b Turner 14 (Inv 66-4)

    Four and out!

    Australian spinner Ashton Turner comes on to bowl and Sam Curran launches him for a one-bounce four through long-on.

    He tries to hack across the line from the following delivery, but is bowled by a delivery that keeps low.

  14. Invincibles 62-3

    19 runs needed

    In comes Sam Billings for the Invincibles and the captain almost gets out immediately, just squeezing his shot past Keaton Jennings at cover and taking a single.

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Cox b Worrall 5 (Inv 60-3)

    Tries the ramp, ends up with his stumps splayed!

    Jordan Cox, on five from eight deliveries, perhaps realises he's running out of time to have some fun and tries an elaborate lift off Dan Worrall.

    He doesn't get hold of it and the ball heads straight on to the stumps.

    Earlier in the set Sam Curran had found the boundary, clearing mid-on.

  16. Invincibles 55-2

    26 runs needed

    Sam Curran comes in at number four, no doubt hoping to finish the job for Invincibles fairly swiftly.

    The left-hander lashes Dawson through the covers for four, before the Spirit spinner ends his set with a dot ball.

    That's Dawson done for the evening, finishing with figures of 2-9 from his 20 deliveries.

  17. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Two

    Fantastic display of bowling from Liam Dawson. He varies his pace and doesn't let his batter get set.

    He has gone up the salaries this year too.

  18. wicket

    WICKET

    Jacks c Jennings b Dawson 24 (Inv 51-2)

    A second wicket for Liam Dawson!

    Will Jacks tries to work the Spirit spinner into the off side and finds Keaton Jennings at backward point.

    Jennings drops into a long barrier and takes the ball just above the turf.

  19. Ravi Bopara
    Former England all-rounder on BBC Two

    A lot of the London Spirit players are good square of the wicket. So the recruiting is done with the fact that the boundaries at Lord's are shorter in mind.

    But it can become a problem at other grounds. You have to have a balance.

    This is where Invincibles have nailed their batting line-up, they have a mix of everything.

  20. Invincibles 51-1

    30 runs needed

    Four singles and a wide off Luke Wood's third set.

    Invincibles now past 50 and steadily going about their chase of this low target.