Oval Invincibles won against Manchester Originals

Sam Curran once again proved to be the match-winner for Oval Invincibles, securing a thrilling last-ball victory against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford. Curran, the England allrounder, held his composure to concede just three runs from the final five deliveries, clinching the win by a narrow margin of three runs and propelling Invincibles to the top of the table.

Curran, who has been in sensational form, had already made headlines with a hat-trick and a half-century in his previous match against London Spirit. He continued his impressive run in Manchester, smashing six sixes on his way to 68 from 38 balls before turning his attention to the final overs with the ball.

The loss marks the end of Manchester Originals' hopes of advancing to the knockout stages, after two consecutive years as finalists. Young opener Matthew Hurst contributed 50 off 29 balls, just two days after his maiden half-century, and combined with captain Phil Salt for an 89-run stand from 54 balls to set a solid foundation for the chase of 164 for 8. While Salt's aggressive start was notable, Hurst's impressive stroke play captured the crowd's excitement.

However, the Originals' chase faltered when both Hurst and Salt fell in quick succession. Hurst was dismissed by a clever delivery from Will Jacks, and despite some late fireworks from Paul Walter and Jamie Overton, the Originals struggled. Overton hit a six but was caught off Curran's bowling, and Usama Mir was left to face the final ball needing four runs to win, only to be caught by Tom Lammonby.

Curran reflected on the match, saying, "We bowled really well, and our success comes from the self-belief within the team. The Hundred format keeps you in the game, and it’s great to see different players stepping up. Winning close games is a testament to our resilience, and we're very pleased with our performance."