Dominators Secure Victory Over Spirit in Inaugural Game of The Hundred Tournament
In an impressive opening to their title defense, the Oval Invincibles secured a six-wicket victory over London Spirit in The Hundred.
The London Spirit, struggling on a tricky pitch, managed a modest total of 80 runs after 94 balls, one of the lowest scores in the tournament's history. Rashid Khan, making his debut for the Spirit, proved to be a standout performer, taking 3 crucial wickets and conceding only 11 runs in 20 balls, also contributing 3 catches in the field. His impressive showing earned him the Man of the Match honors.
Rashid Khan's performance was marked by a record-setting slow delivery, the slowest wicket-taking ball by a seamer in the men's competition history, though the specific details of the slowest delivery record are not yet known.
The Oval Invincibles started their innings cautiously, with Jason Behrendorff bowling a tight opening set, dismissing Kane Williamson and Keaton Jennings. Despite David Warner struggling in his debut match, scoring only nine runs, the Invincibles were able to chase down the total with 31 balls to spare.
Liam Dawson took 2 wickets for the London Spirit in the Invincibles' innings, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Invincibles from clinching the match with a powerful six from Donovan Ferreira on the 69th ball of their innings.
Fans can follow the tournament through detailed commentary on multiple platforms, as the competition continues on Wednesday with Manchester Originals playing against Southern Brave. Sam Curran provided valuable support for the London Spirit, contributing 3 wickets and 18 runs, while Curran's teammate Dawson also made an impact with his bowling.
Rashid Khan's comeback performance in The Hundred 2025 was a testament to his resilience and skill, after undergoing back surgery following the 2023 World Cup and struggling in the IPL 2025 due to early return and rehab mistakes. A subsequent break helped him regain top form, leading to this strong comeback performance in The Hundred.
Rashid Khan's impressive Man of the Match performance, highlighted by a record-breaking slow delivery, played a crucial role in London Spirit's low score in The Hundred. Despite this, the Oval Invincibles successfully chased down the total, securing a six-wicket victory, demonstrating their determination in sports.
