The Hundred: London Spirit lose last-ball thriller

Matt Critchley threatened to steal the win for the Spirit with an unbeaten 32 off 13 balls before a Sam Curran no-ball – from what should have been the final delivery of the game – gave Spirit a second chance with three needed.

But tailender Chris Wood could not make contact as the hosts defended 189 which owed to some big hitting from ‘Match Hero’ Will Jacks who clubbed 68 off 42 before claiming two for 15.

Heinrich Klaasen also thrashed 46 not out with Curran adding a blistering 35 despite Daryl Mitchell claiming two for 16 from 10 balls.

Adam Rossington was instrumental in leading the Spirit chase with four huge sixes as he opened with 61 from 32 balls.

The opening stages of the match were difficult for the Invincibles as they failed to score from five balls, before Jason Roy and Jacks found their fluency in a partnership of 79.

The visitors ended the stand when Mitchell had Roy caught behind with his first ball and then Jacks was caught in the deep by Zak Crawley.

Klaasen picked up from where Jacks left off as he scored four sixes as he powered his team over 170, as Curran caught the mood of the match before being caught out at the boundary by Mitchell.

With the visitors chasing 189 for the win, the partnership of Crawley and Rossington was influential as they scored 58 for none at the end of the powerplay.

Rossington reached his half-century off 22 and while Crawley struggled for his timing the Spirit kept rolling as the partnership flourished to reduce the deficit to needing 99 off 55.

Invincibles got their breakthrough as Curran bowled Crawley off the thigh pad before Jacks claimed two quick wickets, including the key scalp of Rossington.

The Spirit’s chase started to falter with Matthew Wade out for 19 off 15 balls before three wickets fell in the next seven balls.

But Critchley then found his groove, smashing Curran for back-to-back sixes, before Wood slogged Zak Chappell for four to leave Spirit needing 17 off Curran’s final set of five.

Critchley clubbed the third ball into the crowd and thought he had done the same next ball only for Ross Whiteley to somehow palm the ball back into play. Curran’s no-ball then gave Spirit once last chance but it was too much for Wood as the hosts held on.