The Hundred returns for 2025 with a mouth‑watering double header at Lord’s Cricket Ground. After the women’s clash it is the men’s turn when London Spirit Men host Oval Invincibles Men on Tuesday 5 August. This 100‑ball game takes place at Lord’s in St John’s Wood, London and gets under way at 18 : 30 BST (17 : 30 GMT), which means fans in India can tune in at 23 : 00 IST. The match pits last season’s champions against a Spirit side under new leadership, and tickets for the historic venue are selling quickly.
Form Guide
Both teams enter the 2025 season with very different recent histories. London Spirit finished at the foot of the men’s standings in 2024 and come into this match desperate to turn the tide, while Oval Invincibles are fresh off a dominant campaign in which they won four of their last five games. Here is a look at their recent form:
London Spirit Men
- Lost four of their last five matches in 2024, including defeats to Oval Invincibles (by 30 runs and by nine wickets), Manchester Originals (by 12 runs) and Trent Rockets (by 22 runs).
- Their only win came against Northern Superchargers when they successfully defended 111 and won by 21 runs.
- Struggled to post competitive totals, averaging just over 118 runs per match across those five games.
Oval Invincibles Men
- Won four of their last five matches in 2024, beating Southern Brave twice, London Spirit once and Manchester Originals by three runs.
- Their only defeat was a six‑wicket loss to Trent Rockets, but they still topped the standings and looked comfortable against most opponents.
- Possess a balanced batting order and a potent attack led by left‑arm seamer Sam Curran; they averaged over 136 runs per match and restricted opponents effectively.
Key Players
London Spirit Men
- Kane Williamson – The New Zealand great returns as Spirit captain. His ability to anchor the innings and rotate strike under pressure will be crucial as London look to build bigger totals.
- Andre Russell – The Jamaican all‑rounder brings explosive hitting and handy seam bowling. Russell’s power can change a game in a handful of deliveries and his death‑bowling experience adds balance.
- Zak Crawley / Dan Lawrence – England Test stars who will need to provide impetus at the top. Crawley is capable of quick starts while Lawrence’s wristy stroke‑play suits the 100‑ball format.
Oval Invincibles Men
-
- Sam Curran – The tournament’s standout performer last year. Curran is a dynamic left‑hand batter who strikes at a rapid rate and can also swing the new ball or bowl pinpoint yorkers at the death.
- Tom Curran / Jordan Cox – Tom Curran’s slower balls and variation make him difficult to score off late in the innings, while middle‑order batter Jordan Cox has a knack for finishing games.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Lord’s has produced varied wickets in the men’s Hundred, but statistics show totals in the 125–130 range are competitive. Over the past three seasons the average first‑innings score has hovered around 127, with spinners enjoying better averages (19.19) and economy rates (6.89) than fast bowlers (22.45 and 7.59 respectively). Teams batting second have won over 80 % of matches, so chasing is usually an advantage. Expect both captains to field first if they win the toss.
Weather forecasts for London on 5 August point to dry, mild conditions with sunshine and temperatures around 22 °C and little chance of rain. These conditions should produce an even bounce and encourage free scoring once batters get set.
London Spirit Men v Oval Invincibles Men: Prediction
This match looks like a battle between a Spirit side in rebuilding mode and an Invincibles outfit brimming with confidence. London Spirit have strengthened with the arrivals of Kane Williamson and Andre Russell but still need their domestic top order to fire. Oval Invincibles, in contrast, boast continuity; Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Tom Curran form a formidable core and the team’s recent record against London is dominant. Unless Spirit find early wickets and restrict Curran and Jacks, the Invincibles should have enough firepower to start their title defence with a win.
Dream 11 Fantasy Picks
- Sam Curran – A must‑have all‑rounder who can score quick runs, take wickets and even bowl the critical 100th ball.
- Andre Russell – Offers dual points potential with explosive hitting and a knack for picking up wickets at the death.
- Will Jacks – His attacking batting in the powerplay makes him a valuable pick; early runs can provide a solid fantasy haul.
The men’s London derby promises plenty of fireworks at Lord’s. Don’t miss the action as London Spirit and Oval Invincibles begin their campaigns; tune in at 18 : 30 BST (23 : 00 IST) for a blockbuster start to The Hundred.
