Oval Invincibles clinch back-to-back The Hundred titles

Oval Invincibles lived up to their name on Sunday by becoming the first team in The Hundred to clinch back-to-back titles.

Surrey’s Will Jacks, top scorer in the final with 37 off 22 balls, felt him grabbing the wicket of Southern Brave’s James Vince, the tournament’s leading run-maker, was just as crucial.

Even with Gus Atkinson rested for the finale at the request of an England management keen to keep him fresh for the Test series against Sri Lanka, his fellow Surrey team-mates Sam Curran, Tom Curran and Jacks all came up with telling contributions in front of a capacity 29,000-strong Lord’s crowd.

Southern Brave’s had Ovalites Laurie Evans and Chris Jordan in their ranks but county allegiances were quickly put to one side, as Jacks set Invincibles on their way by lifting England fast bowler Jofra Archer over point for six.

“It’s an amazing feeling, last five balls, when you know you’re going to win with 24 needed,” said Jacks. “I’ve struggled for runs in The Hundred, but I know my role and did well today.

“That six set the tone nicely and TC [Tom Curran] played a ridiculous shot off Jofra later on.

“With Jofra, you’re always looking for high pace and for the ball to swing back in. But I just chucked my hands at it, it was a bit of a free shot.

“People look to target my off-spin, but I nipped it down the slope and bowling Vince for 24 was a huge moment.

“I got a bit carried away and the umpire had a word. But I knew he was going to come after me and I knew the importance of that wicket.”

The game was still in the balance until Saqib Mahmood took three wickets in six balls to rip the stuffing out of Brave, who ultimately came up 17 runs short.

Earlier Tom Curran, the hero of last year’s final – in which he made an unbeaten 67 against Manchester Originals – sparkled with an 11-ball 24 to lift Invincibles up to 147-9, though not before brother Sam had also hit 25.

“To win it twice in a row is immense,” said Jacks. “Saqib bowled the best spell of the tournament and that changed the game.

“We made a few changes and we had a few injuries, but it was a whole team effort, across the whole nine games. We’ve loved having virtually the same core group for the whole four years.

“Tom Moody (coach of Oval Invincibles) has been brilliant and over the years we’ve understood the competition more. It definitely takes time to get used to it with bat and ball.

“Last year, we found a good template and we just tried to copy that this year as a squad and that really helped. Today, when it mattered, I got the team off to a great start.

“I’ve been struggling for runs this year. The ball has moved around, it has been tough opening the batting, but you just have to keep a positive mindset, back your intent and trust your game.

“The balls are different. It’s not the regular Kookaburra ball. It’s got a big Hundred logo on the side on it and the seam feels more pronounced, plus the pitches have offered a lot more for the bowlers.

“It’s all about keeping your head stable, like in four-day cricket, and having a really good base. You’ve got to work really hard on your balance so that even if it’s swinging, you don’t lose your shape.

“When I worry too much about hitting sixes, I go over the top, and I lose my shape, and you look for balls that aren’t there. But when I concentrate on building an innings and respecting the good ball, even in this format, then I perform a bit better, which I did over the last few games.

“At the beginning of the tournament I was looking to go too hard too soon, and if you’re slightly off it’s going to go straight up in the air.”