The Hundred 2023 Final: TomCurran’s all-round heroics help Oval Invincibles seal the title
The Hundred 2023 Final: Tom Curran delivered men’s Hundred glory to south London with a masterful all-around effort as Oval Invincibles rallied from the verge of defeat to defeat Manchester Originals by 14 runs and win their first men’s Hundred championship.
Jimmy Neesham and Curran combined for an innings-saving stand of 127 off 65 balls, scoring 67 not out off 34 balls, Curran’s highest score of the competition. Jimmy Neesham scored 57 off 33 balls. It is impossible to overstate the significance of their partnership, which was the largest in the history of the men’s competition when they turned around a score of 34 for 5 after Jos Buttler had inserted Invincibles after winning the toss.
The Hundred 2023 Final: Invincibles overcome the Originals challenge to win maiden title
Any misgivings Originals may have had at the midway point would have been short-lived considering their performance in Saturday night’s Eliminator since their exploits left Originals needing 162 to make up for their loss in the final of 2022. This was an easy hill to climb after overcoming a much more intimidating 197 by seven wickets with three balls to spare against Southern Brave.
Sadly, Originals’ night before heroes Phil Salt (who had started that chase with 47 from 17 balls) and Buttler (who had finished it with an undefeated 82 from 46) only managed 25 and 11 respectively, the game was effectively over.
Simon Katich, the head coach of Originals, claimed that Invincibles had been the best men’s team in the Hundred, and their overall win-loss record throughout three seasons reflected this: 15 victories and just eight losses. With only one loss in their nine completed games, they did not quite live up to their nickname this year, but few would object to Invincibles winning the trophy.
Reinvention of Tom Curran helps Invincibles seal deserved title
He has been a revelation in this competition. He salvaged a point against Welsh Fire with 38 not out off 18 balls, tying the game with a frantic dive that cost him four games due to a shoulder injury. Upon his return, he helped Southern Brave go from 90 for 7 to 139 for 7 by scoring 43 runs off only 28 balls and taking three wickets in a successful defense.
With 175 runs off 99 balls over five innings to cap off the Hundred season, he was only ever dismissed once. a brief After the final, Jos Buttler refused to say if Curran had been considered for selection for England’s next T20Is against New Zealand, so for the time being, he will have to make due with a Hundred winner’s medal.
Curran had to advance beside the ball. His signature back-of-the-hand slower ball used to be his go-to pitch, but batters eventually figured out how to play it, positioning themselves for the change-up and responding when he went pace-on. He had a lot of success with that, but Billings said that he no longer uses it frequently.
Also read: The Hundred Competition Winners List of All Season
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