The Oval Invincibles secured a thrilling 10-run victory over Welsh Fire in a match dominated by bowlers in Cardiff.
Defending a modest total of 113 for 9, the Invincibles' bowling attack dismantled Welsh Fire's batting lineup. Leg-spinners Nathan Sowter (2 for 12) and Adam Zampa (3 for 24) were instrumental in stifling the hosts, with Zampa earning his second consecutive Meerkat Match Hero award.
After being sent in to bat by Welsh Fire captain Tom Abell, the Invincibles lost Dawid Malan early to David Willey. Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye attempted to steady the innings during the powerplay, but Welsh Fire's seamers maintained pressure. Jacks, scoring 25 from 15 balls, fell to Josh Little, while Sam Billings and Muyeye were dismissed by Jake Ball and Willey, respectively, leaving the Invincibles at 58 for 4 at the halfway mark.
Donovan Ferreira (30 from 23) and Sam Curran (20 from 21) provided some resistance, but the Invincibles struggled to build momentum, losing wickets regularly. Ball emerged as the standout bowler for Welsh Fire, taking 3 for 24.
Chasing 114, Welsh Fire faced an uphill battle, especially after Jonny Bairstow was dropped early but then dismissed by Spencer Johnson shortly after. Curran struck immediately, bowling Joe Clarke with the first ball of his spell. The Invincibles' spinners then took control, with Zampa claiming the key wickets of Abell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (22 from 33), and Willey, while Sowter dismissed Glenn Phillips and Luke Wells.
David Payne's late innings surge, scoring 28 from 15 balls, and Mason Crane's contributions pushed the game to the final moments, but Curran managed to secure the win for the Invincibles.
Reflecting on the match, Zampa highlighted the importance of taking early wickets to gain momentum, praising the efforts of Spencer Johnson and Saqib Mahmood. He noted the challenging conditions, with the pitch offering some spin but being generally difficult to score on throughout the game.