So, that is it from this game then! The action continues on Monday, 9th August, 2021, as Birmingham Phoenix take on Welsh Fire. That game begins at 1830 local (1730 GMT). Till then, goodbye and take care!
Jason Roy, Hero of the match. He says he had a lot of fun in the middle. Goes onto say it was a good game of cricket. Mentions, moving onto the second spot makes it even more special.
Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, Gregory was pretty quick to bowl but that proved to be the wrong call. His side were quite sloppy in the field and the bowlers were also not at their best. They had no answers to Roy's hitting who batted throughout and took his side to a good total. Rockets did come close but in the end, it was Oval who bagged two points and have moved into second spot.
The Oval bowlers were excellent at the start, Narine set the tone by getting a wicket early and then they kept picking wickets at important times. Narine was the star with the three-fer but Shamsi too was excellent. However, just as the game seemed like out of the reach of the visitors, Rashid Khan and Lewis Gregory revived the hopes with a very good partnership. The two added 29 in no time and that saw the batting side need 17 in the last over. Tom Curran though kept his cool and helped his side get over the line.
The last over has proven to be the difference between the two sides! Oval scored 17 from their last over to get to 125 and the Rockets needed 17 from theirs but only managed 6. However they did well to actually get so close to the target as at one stage, it seemed like it is going to be an easy win for the hosts.
Over 13
W
1
1W
1
4
Lewis Gregory*
28 (12)
Timm van der Gugten
1 (1)
Tom Curran
2/21 (3)
TRT
116/8
4
65
Tom Curran to Lewis Gregory ,FOUR! A nice way to end the innings, but Trent Rockets just fell short. A back of a length ball, on off. Gregory looks to hook it away. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards fine leg. The ball ends up in the boundary. Oval Invincibles win by 10 runs.
1
64
Tom Curran to Timm van der Gugten ,A length ball, on off. Timm van der Gugten nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.
W
63
Tom Curran to Lewis Gregory ,OUT! RUN OUT! A slip by Gregory has proven to be costly for his team. A length ball, on off. Gregory pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The man in the deep collects the ball and throws it at the striker's end. Gregory was looking for two, but he fell at non-striker's end. Carter was already on his way back there. The man throws the ball to the keeper and Billings was quick enough to clip the bails. Carter has to depart.
Timm van der Gugten is the new man in!
1
62
Tom Curran to Matthew Carter ,A length ball, on off, guided to third man for a single.
Carter walks out to bat! He will be on strike as it does not matter if the batters crossed or no.
W
61
Tom Curran to Rashid Khan ,OUT! CAUGHT! Rashid wanted to ease down the pressure, but instead manages to pile it on. A full length ball, on off. Khan gets under it and lifts it high in the air. The ball goes towards mid off. Laurie Evans settles under it and takes a brilliant catch under pressure.
Strategic Time-Out! 17 from the last 5 balls needed! This game is well and truly alive. Let me remind you, Oval were around the same score heading into their set of last 5. Who will bowl the last over is the question. Narine? Curran? Maybe Narine as he has been outstanding so far but will they take the risk of going with a spinner? Curran, well, he can be hit, we have seen him go for plenty before. A lot of decisions to make. It is Tom Curran. Rashid on strike. Here we go...
Over 12
1b
wd
6
1
4
4
Lewis Gregory*
23 (10)
Rashid Khan
16 (5)
Saqib Mahmood
0/30 (3)
TRT
109/6
4
60
Saqib Mahmood to Lewis Gregory ,FOUR! GAME ON! A length ball, outside off. Gregory looks to heave it away. The ball flies over the short third man off the bottom end of the blade. The ball ends up in the boundary. 17 runs needed in 5 balls.
4
59
Saqib Mahmood to Lewis Gregory ,FOUR! STREAKY! A full length ball, outside off. Gregory throws his bat at it. The ball takes the outside edge and flies towards Sunil Narine at short third man. He fails to grab the ball and the ball ends up in the boundary at third man.
1
58
Saqib Mahmood to Rashid Khan ,A full length ball, outside off. Khan reaches out and slashes it towards backward point for a single.
6
57
Saqib Mahmood to Rashid Khan ,SIX! Long way into the stands! A touch short, on off. Khan stays back and pulls it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum. 26 needed in 8 balls now.
wd
57
Saqib Mahmood to Rashid Khan ,WIDE! A full length ball, way outside off. Khan leaves it alone. Wide called.