The Hundred | Defending champions Oval go off the mark as bowling mastery outskilled Birmingham

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Defending Champions Oval Invicibles beat the Birmingham Phoenix by eight wickets and 31 balls remaining in the Men’s Hundred curtain raiser. A threatening new-ball spell followed by Adam Zampa’s three-fer and Will Jack’s breakthroughs set up an easy total to chase for the Sam Billings-led army.

Amidst the Test match fever in England, a packed Oval eagerly awaited the first game of The Hundred between Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix. The Phoenix skipper Moeen Ali won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision didn't quite pay off as Aneurin Donald and Liam Livingstone departed within ten balls. The worry doubled when Dan Mousley and Ali fell prey to the vicious new ball spell from Saqib Mahmood and Mohammad Amir. While Jacob Bethall and Benny Howell tried to stabilize the stage with mini partnerships with Rishi Patel, the introduction of spin spoiled their intent. Will Jacks and Adam Zampa wreaked havoc in their middle and lower order, reducing bundling them to 89 from 77/5 in a span of 17 deliveries.

The lateral movement off the surface persisted at the start of the second innings and Tim Southee made the most of it by outwitting Will Jacks in the second set. However, Tawanda Muyeye counter-attacked the opposition bowlers with a 14-ball 23 before the Kiwi veteran returned to get his number on the 16th ball. Subsequently, Dawid Malan and Sam Billings opted for a measured approach, The pair switched gears ninth set with Malan smacking consecutive fours in the tenth set and Billings joining in with a couple of fours and a six in the 12th set, curtailing the equation to eight needed off 35 balls. Although it took them ten balls to surmount the 90-run mark, a comprehensive win helped the hosts go off the mark in style.

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