Oval Invincibles clinch third consecutive men's Hundred title with 26-run win over Trent Rockets

Will Jacks's 72 and a three-wicket spell from Sowter powered the Invincibles to a 168-5 total and a 26-run victory at Lord's.

Oval Invincibles secured a third successive men's Hundred crown on Saturday after defeating Trent Rockets by 26 runs in the final at Lord's. The Invincibles posted 168 for 5, propelled by Will Jacks's aggressive 72 off 41 balls, and then restricted the Rockets to 142 for 8 as Sowter claimed 3 for 25 to finish the tournament on a high.

Jacks, an England right-hander, set the tone early by dispatching the first ball of the final to the boundary and went on to record the highest individual score in a men's Hundred final. He struck seven fours and two sixes, including an enormous shot into the top tier that helped him reach a 32-ball fifty. A decisive 87-run partnership with Jordan Cox (40 off 28) put the Invincibles on course for what proved to be a match-winning total.

"BBC Sport image from Lord's"

Trent Rockets' chase was led by Marcus Stoinis, who made 64 off 37 balls, but the Rockets never quite kept up with the required rate and lost wickets at key moments. The Rockets finished on 142 for 8, falling 26 runs short of the target despite a late rally. Sowter, who took three wickets in his first seven deliveries of the match, was a central figure in turning the game in the Invincibles' favour; a BBC caption described him as a "dangerous player" after his early breakthrough spell.

The Invincibles entered the final having finished top of the group stage table and were installed as clear favourites, a position Sam Drury of BBC Sport noted at Lord's. Their batting display under pressure in the final validated that billing: Cox and Jacks combined to steady the innings after early movement and then accelerated through the middle overs to build the platform for a defendable total.

After being set 169 to win, the Rockets lost wickets at intervals that prevented any sustained momentum. Stoinis provided the backbone of the reply, carving several boundaries and striking quickly, but the supporting contributions were insufficient. Sowter's early wickets removed threatening batters and disrupted the Rockets' chase, while other Invincibles bowlers tightened in the middle overs to limit scoring opportunities.

The final unfolded with the Invincibles upfront and the Rockets fighting back intermittently. The Invincibles' opening aggression, epitomised by Jacks's first-ball four, established an early scoring tempo. Cox complemented that intent by rotating the strike and capitalising on loose deliveries, enabling the partnership to flourish. When the Rockets did apply pressure late in the innings, the Invincibles answered by conceding only modest runs in the closing overs and leaving a target that ultimately proved beyond the chasing side.

For the Rockets, Stoinis's innings was a standout under trying circumstances and kept the contest alive into the later stages. But the loss of wickets at crucial moments and the inability to consistently find boundaries under mounting required-run pressure proved decisive. The visitors' total of 142 included efforts from several batters but lacked the sustained partnerships necessary to overhaul the Invincibles' total.

Sowter's three-for-25 was the most economical and effective spell among the bowlers on the day, and his immediate impact—three wickets early in his stint—shifted momentum toward the Invincibles. His performance, together with the Invincibles' disciplined bowling throughout the innings, enabled the defending champions to close out the victory and secure the title.

The win completes a treble of consecutive Hundred men's titles for the Invincibles and reinforces their dominance in the short-format tournament. Their success in the group phase, combined with clinical performances in knockout matches, laid the foundation for the latest championship triumph at one of cricket's most storied venues.

Match summary (Lord's)

• Oval Invincibles 168-5 (100 balls): Will Jacks 72 (41), Jordan Cox 40 (28)
• Trent Rockets 142-8 (100 balls): Marcus Stoinis 64 (37); Sowter 3-25
• Result: Oval Invincibles won by 26 runs

The final at Lord's showcased both aggressive strokeplay and disciplined bowling across the two sides. The Invincibles' top-order fireworks and mid-innings consolidation created a defendable total, and their bowlers executed well under pressure in the chase. For the Rockets, the performance highlighted the contributions of Stoinis but also the challenge of overcoming a well-balanced Invincibles lineup on a high-profile stage.

As the Hundred continues to evolve as a flagship short-format competition, the Invincibles' three-peat will be a notable chapter in the tournament's history. Their mix of established international players and impactful domestic performers delivered in the key moments of the final, and the title at Lord's adds another significant accolade to the club's recent record.

Sources

• https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/cvg02n9lll5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss