Superchargers boost hopes by beating Invincibles

The Hundred men’s competition, Headingley

Northern Superchargers 198-4 (100 balls): Brook 56 (27), Crawley 49 (25)

Oval Invincibles 182-7 (100 balls): Ferreira 41 (15); Lawes 2-22, Duffy 2-39

Superchargers won by 16 runs

Northern Superchargers boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of The Hundred men’s competition by defeating Oval Invincibles at Headingley.

The 16-run win mean the two sides are now only separated by net run-rate at the top of the table as the hosts moved level on 20 points with the Invincibles.

After Harry Brook’s first-half century of this year’s Hundred and Zak Crawley’s rapid 49 helped Superchargers set a target of 199, Will Jacks’ 11-ball 25 gave the Invincibles a brisk start in their chase.

But Jacob Duffy halted his charge inside the powerplay before Tom Lawes struck twice, dismissing Tawanda Muyeye and the in-form Jordan Cox – who came into the match on the back of three consecutive half-centuries.

When Sam Curran edged Matthew Potts to wicketkeeper Michael Pepper, the Invincibles were reeling at 115-4.

But Donovan Ferreira gave them some hope by hitting three fours and three sixes from seven deliveries before falling for a 15-ball 41 – Duffy ending the chance of a dramatic comeback to set the Superchargers on their way to a crucial win.

Earlier, openers Crawley and Dawid Malan gave the hosts a flying start after being sent in to bat by Invincibles skipper Sam Billings.

Crawley set the tone early, helping them race to 49 without loss by the end of the powerplay, before falling just one run short of a fifty.

Captain Brook consolidated the Superchargers’ innings with a 27-ball 56 that included five sixes and three fours, before David Miller added the finishing touches, launching Tom Curran for three consecutive sixes in the final set to take them to 198-4.

There are four games on Sunday, starting with Welsh Fire women against Trent Rockets women at Cardiff at 11:00 BST.

The men’s match follows from 14:30. At the same time as that second match, Manchester Originals women host Birmingham Phoenix at Old Trafford.

Originals men against Phoenix men follows at 18:00.