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Rashid Khan and Sam Curran Dismantle London Spirit as Oval Invincibles Begin Hundred 2025 With Dominant Win
A Powerful Bowling Performance Sets the Tone at Lord’s
Oval Invincibles started their 2025 Men’s Hundred campaign with an emphatic six-wicket victory over London Spirit at Lord’s, thanks to a phenomenal bowling display led by Rashid Khan and Sam Curran. The reigning champions barely broke a sweat as they bowled out Spirit for a meagre 80 runs in 100 deliveries, and chased the target down with 39 balls to spare.
This opening match of the new season was not just a win — it was a statement. Rashid, on his debut for Invincibles, alongside Curran, showcased ruthless precision, accounting for six wickets between them and delivering a staggering 25 dot balls out of their combined 39. The Invincibles clearly look poised for another strong season in The Hundred 2025.
Early Breakthroughs Set Up the Collapse
Clark and Behrendorff Trigger Top-Order Damage
Before Rashid and Curran took over, Jordan Clark and Jason Behrendorff gave the Invincibles an electric start with the ball. The pair dismissed high-profile Spirit batters Keaton Jennings, David Warner, and Kane Williamson — all for single-digit scores.
These early breakthroughs immediately put London Spirit on the back foot, creating the perfect platform for Rashid and Curran to unleash their mastery in the middle overs.
Rashid and Curran Dominate the Middle Overs
Rashid Khan’s impact was immediate and impressive. He concluded with figures of 3 for 11 in 20 balls, stifling Spirit’s batters with relentless accuracy. Meanwhile, Sam Curran also delivered a match-winning performance with 3 for 18 from his 19 balls, consistently breaking the rhythm of the opposition.
Spirit’s batting lineup never recovered from these body blows. Ashton Turner’s 21 was the top score, while Ryan Higgins (12) was the only other player to cross double digits. Seven of Spirit’s batters failed to score more than 9 runs, underscoring their fragile start to the season.
Chase Completed with Calm Despite Mini-Stumble
Jacks and Muyeye Lay the Foundation
In response, Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye provided a solid start, taking the Invincibles close to halfway before Liam Dawson picked up Muyeye’s wicket. Dawson, who had recently featured in the Test match against India at Manchester, returned to Spirit’s T20 line-up and finished with an economical 2 for 9.
Despite a brief hiccup that saw Invincibles slip from 51/1 to 66/4, the experienced duo of Sam Billings and Donovan Ferreira calmly sealed the chase, reaching 81/4 in just 69 balls.
🔗 Related Reading: Full list of Men’s Hundred 2025 fixtures and squads
Key Absences Hurt London Spirit
Spirit’s struggles were compounded by the absence of key players. Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, and Ollie Pope — all involved in the dramatic five-day Test at The Oval — were unavailable for this opener. Their absence left a noticeable void in Spirit’s line-up, which could be a concern moving forward in the competition.
Match Summary
London Spirit: 80 all out in 100 balls
(Ashton Turner 21; Rashid Khan 3-11, Sam Curran 3-18)
Oval Invincibles: 81/4 in 69 balls
(Will Jacks 24, Tawanda Muyeye 18; Liam Dawson 2-9)
Result: Oval Invincibles won by 6 wickets
📸 Explore the best moments from the Invincibles’ dominant win on ECB’s official site
