As Oval Invincibles prepare for Match 5 of The Hundred 2025, they will aim to build on the confidence gained from a commanding opening victory over London Spirit – chasing down 81 with 31 balls to spare. As they have both bat and ball firing, they will face a motivated Manchester Originals outfit keen to bounce back from their opening loss. A glance at the predicted XI, based on the strong start.
Openers
Will Jacks was really in his element at the crease during the opening match, as he laid a solid foundation with a calm 24 from 24 balls. Sure, his strike rate is modest by his standards, but he showed some excellent control and footwork, while rotating the strike and punishing the bad balls. He will probably get another chance to open the batting, especially as he can go through the gears quickly.
Tawanda Muyeye, who was his opening partner, played a steady innings of 18 off 20, showing his ability to play measured cricket. He did not hit many boundaries, but he demonstrated the temperament of a batter who can build an innings. Jacks and Muyeye make a nice right-hand/left-hand combination, with one batter aggressive and the other patient, to face pace and spin in the powerplay.
Middle Order
Sam Curran’s 14 runs off just 9 balls demonstrated his increasing stature as a reliable and fearless middle-order striker. Arriving just after 20 runs were needed, he made certain there were no late twists to the finish. Curran’s selected shots, in particular his offside pick-ups, were stunning and authoritative.
Ken Billings, Captain and Wicketkeeper, may only have made 6, but in that short outing, he looked fluent and made a good impact. However, having him there at the moment provided some calm and steadiness when the side faced some quick wickets.
Bowlers
Talk about making an impression—Jordan Clark’s 2/8 from 2 overs said it all. With good accuracy and swing, he dismantled the Spirit’s top order and set the tone early. Clark is a valuable wrist in the power play, and with his ability to get and take movement.
Although overshadowed by Rashid and Curran, Jason Behrendorff was quietly effective. He was tight (1/17 in 4 overs), building pressure and manufacturing mistakes. The left-arm angle and a lot of back-of-a-length make him tough to attack at the best of times, but particularly on English wickets. His experience gives us the composure and depth in the bowling unit.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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