Rovman Powell’s Heroics Propel Trent Rockets’ Victory Over Oval Invincibles in The Hundred 2024
Rovman Powell’s brilliant effort helped Trent Rockets defeat Oval Invincibles in a thrilling match at Trent Bridge, postponing the defending champions’ guarantee of a position in The Hundred’s final at Lord’s.
The Invincibles are still the clear favorite to win their group and advance straight to the final, but a decisive victory over the dreadful Manchester Originals on Thursday night could allow Birmingham Phoenix to catch up to them in net run-rate. The defending champions’ are waiting upon the outcome of Birmingham Phoenix.
Key Performances and Match Results
Oval Invincibles 150 for 3 (Malan 53*, Cox 39, Jacks 30) lost to Trent Rockets 151 for 4 (Powell 45, Alsop 41*, Hales 35) by six wickets.
If the Phoenix bat first, they would need to win by about 92 runs, or they would need to chase down a target with about 62 balls remaining.
“They’re a very good side,” Invincibles skipper Sam Billings remarked. “Trent Bridge is a fantastic site to play, and we knew it would be a difficult encounter tonight. Their season could have gone very differently.
“As for us, there are a lot of positives tonight. This tournament has seen us play a lot of very, very strong cricket, and one loss does not alter that. It all comes down to situational adaptation. Although The Oval has performed considerably differently than Lord’s, everyone in the group is very clear about their own tasks.”
Powell and Tom Alsop put up an 80-run partnership from only 32 balls when Powell came to the crease with three wickets down and 95 needed from 52 balls, sending the Rockets hurtling towards the Invincibles’ 150-run total.
Powell’s displays produced four sixes, including a 101-meter drive off Sam Curran, before Curran got Powell to misjudge a lofted drive to long-on. The Rockets needed 15 runs from 10 balls after the Jamaican was dismissed, but Alsop and Chris Green gave the home team the victory with six balls remaining.
The past two winners of the Hundred men’s competition have had quite different seasons. The 2022 champion Rockets have already lost four games and are out of the running heading into Wednesday’s game, while the Invincibles have been unwavering, having won six of their previous seven.
However, there wasn’t much separating the teams in front of 12,000 spectators at Trent Bridge. Dawid Malan, the opener for the Invincibles, made a cool half-century against his former team by batting through the innings for an undefeated 53 off 43 balls, choosing to bat first on a pitch that was taking turns. This allowed the batters to open up around him.
The Invincibles dominated the powerplay thanks to Will Jacks’ fast 30-run century (17 balls), which came before Jordan Cox hammered a 30-ball 39 in a 71-run partnership with Malan.
Sam Cook, the most economical bowler for the Rockets with 2 for 23, eventually got Cox, which allowed Donovan Ferreira to dominate the latter stages. With three consecutive sixes in his undefeated 27-ball innings, Ferreira helped the Invincibles reach 150 for 3.
With 15 of the first 20 balls of the Rockets innings bowled by him, Saqib Mahmood was a fast and aggressive bowler who often hit 88 mph and took out Tom Banton in his opening over.
Both Joe Root and Alex Hales made a comeback, but the Invincibles were clearly the favorites after Hales, at 35, missed a pull to give Jacks his maiden wicket and Root lofted a Nathan Sowter leg-break to Curran at long-on. Presenting Powell and Alsop, who reminded Rockets supporters of their excellence.
