Oval Invincibles Dominate Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred Opener
- The Oval Invincibles showcased their prowess by defeating Birmingham Phoenix by eight wickets.
- Birmingham Phoenix struggled with batting, getting bowled out for just 89 runs.
- This match marks the opening of The Hundred tournament, which is streamed live on Sky Sports.
In a commanding performance, the defending champions Oval Invincibles secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Birmingham Phoenix in the opening match of The Hundred at the Kia Oval. Set a modest target of 90 runs after the Phoenix crumbled to 89 all out in just 81 balls, the Invincibles chased down the total with 31 balls to spare. The match saw a strong partnership between captain Sam Billings, who scored 31 not out, and Dawid Malan, making his debut for the Invincibles with an unbeaten 24. Spinner Adam Zampa was the standout bowler for the Invincibles, claiming three wickets for just 11 runs, with his wickets coming in a devastating spell of seven balls towards the end of the Phoenix innings. Zampa expressed his enjoyment of bowling at the Kia Oval, noting the pitch's characteristics that make it challenging for batsmen. His strategy of attacking the stumps proved effective, contributing significantly to the Phoenix's batting collapse. In other cricket news, former England captain Eoin Morgan addressed speculation regarding his potential candidacy for the role of England's white-ball head coach. Speaking during the coverage of The Hundred, Morgan stated that while he has aspirations to coach in the future, the timing is not right due to his commitment to family life. He emphasized his current enjoyment of watching cricket and the uncertainty surrounding future coaching opportunities. The women's match of The Hundred is set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket, with coverage beginning at 2:30 PM and play starting at 3 PM. Fans can also stream the match via the Sky Sports app and on YouTube.