Cox, Jacks put Invincibles on course for a direct entry to final

The Oval Invincibles romped home to victory over city rivals London Spirit at The Oval by six wickets and with 22 balls to spare, in a commanding win that has all but assured them of top spot and a direct entry into the final. The strength and power through the Invincibles' batting order meant they made relatively easy work of the 153-run target set by the Spirit.

Invincibles enjoy a far superior NRR (+1.786) to the two chasing sides - Trent Rockets (+0.441) and Northern Superchargers (+0.282), who still need to win, and win massively, in their last league game to remain in the mix for taking the direct route to the summit clash.

Put in to bat, the Spirit made a brisk start through Jamie Smith, who struck boundaries off the first two balls. Smith continued to be the aggressor in the early sets, regularly finding the boundary while David Warner held firm at the other end. But an eventful period between balls 17 and 23 brought three fours as well as the dismissals of both openers, dragging the Invincibles back into the contest. Ollie Pope soon followed for just two, leaving the Spirit three down inside 50.

Kane Williamson and Ashton Turner came together but struggled to find momentum, scoring at close to a run-a-ball. Both fell in quick succession to Nathan Sowter's guile, pegging the Spirit further back. Jamie Overton (31 off 18) and Ryan Higgins (28 off 15) then injected life into the innings, adding 54 off 28 deliveries, before the Spirit closed on 152 for 7.

The Spirit struck on the first ball of the chase as Richard Gleeson dismissed Tawanda Muyeye. From there, however, the Invincibles took control. Jordan Cox wasted no time, striking a four and a six, while Will Jacks also cut loose, taking on Luke Wood and Overton with multiple boundaries.

The introduction of spin brought no respite, as Cox and Jacks punished Jafer Chohan and Liam Dawson. Dawson had the last laugh by dismissing Jacks, who holed out to deep midwicket, but Chohan was taken apart by Sam Curran, who cleared the ropes and struck a four. Cox also kept up the pressure, hammering Gleeson for consecutive boundaries. Curran launched Dawson for six in a favourable match-up against the left-arm spinner, but Dawson struck back immediately, dismissing him the very next ball.

Cox fell three short of a fifty when Overton knocked back his stumps, but Donovan Ferreira ensured there was no late drama, smashing two fours and two sixes in a 24-run cameo off just nine balls. The Invincibles completed the chase with ease and disdain.

Brief Scores: London Spirit 152/7 in 100 balls (Jamie Overton 31, Jamie Smith 28; Nathan Sowter 2-23, Tom Curran 2-27) lost to Oval Invincibles 153/4 in 78 balls (Jordan Cox 47, Will Jacks 45; Liam Dawson 2-30, Richard Gleeson 1-21) by six wickets.