The stage is set for the grand finale of Hundred 2025 as the top two sides in the competition face-off against each other. It is Oval Invincibles taking on the Trent Rockets live from the Mecca of Cricket at Lord’s in London. The match is scheduled to start at 10:30 PM IST. It’s fitting that both these sides have reached the finals and at the end of the day, the team that holds its nerves is going to win the contest. Both teams have played good quality cricket to get into this position.
Oval Invincibles have been head and shoulders above the other teams and have won the title the last two times and going for a hat-trick. This season, they lost two games in the league stage and finished on top of the points table with 24 points and a better Run Rate compared to Trent Rockets meant they directly went into the finals. Trent Rockets, on the other hand, also has had a solid season but had to come off some close encounters to win against Welsh Fire and Birmingham Phoenix. The Eliminator game was abandoned due to rain and because they finished higher than Northern Superchargers, they qualified for the finals.
Overview ahead of the Final.Â
Defending champions Oval Invincibles are well led by Sam Billings the keeper batter as he marshals his troops really well. They have looked the best side all through the season and going for a hat-trick of titles. Whether they cross the finishing line remains to be seen. The Invincibles have all bases covered and look a dangerous team to say the least. They have Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye opening the batting and the openers have done well for them.
Jordan Cox has been in the form of his life and maybe one of the key figures in this team. Then you have all-rounders in the Curran brothers Sam and Tom with Sam playing some important knocks for the team. Let’s not forget Donovan Ferreira the designated finisher for the Oval Invincibles. With the ball, Jason Behrendorff, and Saqib Mahmood will be the key for Oval alongside Nathan Sowter as well. Gus Atkinson is an option, but he might not play the game. Adam Zampa has come into the squad replacing Rashid Khan and might get a look in the final.
If Oval Invincibles are strong, one shouldn’t discount the challengers in Trent Rockets led by David Willey. They are also a solid unit with Tom Banton opening with Joe Root and Root is the glue to this innings holding one end up and keeping cool under pressure. Rehan Ahmed is a proper all-rounder and is a key to the team. Watch out for Marcus Stoinis, and George Linde who have an important role to play for their side.
Lockie Ferguson will hold the key in the bowling department. Watch out for utility players like Sam Hain and Max Holden alongside new ball bowler Samuel James Cook as well. Depending on conditions, Callum Parkinson, and Calvin Harrison might have a role to play going forward. Both teams look well set and set to go for the finals and whoever plays better on the day will come out victors for their side. It could be anyone, Oval on paper and form looks strong but anything can happen in a game of cricket.
Head-To-Head.Â
There is nothing really to chose between the two sides. But they have met 5 times in the past with Oval Invincibles winning 3 off them and Trent Rockets winning 2. They met earlier this season on 21st August at the Oval in London where Oval Invincibles chased down a target of 172 runs in 89 balls with Sam Curran playing a huge role for the team winning the game.
Pitch & Weather Conditions at Lord’s.Â
The pitch for the final at Lord’s in London will be a balanced one for the batters and bowlers. Since, so much cricket has been played, we expect a used surface to be used. The ball will come onto the bat but the batters will have to apply themselves. The bowlers will also need to bowl the right lines and lengths in order to be successful. Whether it will be flat remains to be seen. The average first innings score in the Hundred has been 136 and the second innings average score is 130. Pacers have taken 70 wickets compared to 43 for the spinners in the last 10 games at this venue.
With weather around and the pitch maybe under covers, the toss-winner would likely opt to field first because of DLS but it won’t be a bad thing to bat first either. Coming to the weather conditions, it rained in London on Saturday abandoning the Eliminator clash at the Oval. The forecast for Sunday is a tad similar with rain forecast but it is supposedly better than Saturday. The humidity will be around 88% and chance of precipitation is at 80%. Rain could disrupt proceedings. Let’s hope the prediction proves wrong and the rain stays away and we get the full game in. The conditions maybe overcast though.
Probable Playing XIS of Both Teams.Â
Here, we will try and decipher the predicted playing XIs of both teams that will play the final later today.
Oval Invincibles Playing XI: Will Jacks, Tawanda Muyeye, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Sam Billings (c&wk), Donovan Ferreira, Tom Curran, Nathan Sowter, Saqib Mahmood, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa.
Trent Rockets Playing XI: Tom Banton, Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, Marcus Stoinis, Sam Hain, David Willey (c), Ross Whiteley, Ben Cox (wk), George Linde, Samuel James Cook, Lockie Ferguson
Key Players to Watch out for in both teams:Â
Sam Curran: Sam Curran with his all-round exploits will be the key in this summit clash. His change ups and variations can outfox any batter and then we have seen with willow in hand, he can be dangerous to say the least. He can take out any attack in the opposition and turn the game on its head. All eyes will be on Sam to see how he handles the pressure of the big stage.
Jordan Cox: Batting at Number 3, Jordan Cox has been in the form of his life and consistently scoring runs. Especially, in run chases, he has looked like a man on a mission. He dominates the innings from that Number 3 spot and will be a key in the final. In a chase or even setting the total, he will be the key in dominating the bowling. The Rockets will try to take his wicket quickly because if he sticks around, he can change the complexion of the game very quickly.
Joe Root: The ever-calming presence of Joe Root is key for the Trent Rockets. He was not in the best of forms in the initial phase of the tournament but has slowly come into form in the last few matches. In tricky run chases especially against the Welsh Fire, it was Root who held his nerve and got his side over the line with the win. He brings calmness which will be the key in a final and if he does well, Rockets have a chance to upstage Oval.
Rehan Ahmed: The all-rounder has been in the form of his life for the Rockets. Pushing for a possible Ashes call-up, Rehan has done his job with the ball taking important wickets when it matters and then also with the bat in hand he has made handy contributions batting at 3. With the pitch at Lord’s expected to take spin, Rehan could be the key bowler for Rockets and hope is that he takes regular wickets for the Rockets to do well. Rehan is an important player for the side.
Possible/Predicted Outcome of the Match.Â
For starters, let us hope that there is no rain at Lord’s and we get a game in. The final doesn’t have a reserve day and in the event of abandonment, Oval will be declared champions since they finished on top of the points table in the league stage. But we don’t want the season to end like this. Coming to the match in hand assuming it happens, it will come down to who plays better and holds their nerve. The team chasing and Oval loves chasing will have an advantage in the final is what we feel.
Two top teams are in the final and it is difficult to choose a winner. But looking at form and record for the past 2-3 years and pedigree in the team, we reckon Oval Invincibles start this match as favourites and should go on to win the match. Trent Rockets will have to play well and hope to chase in order to win later tonight. A riveting battle awaits us and let’s hope we get a cracking finish to Hundred 2025.
Also Read: Hundred 2025: Rehan Ahmed’s All-Round Show Helps Trent Rockets Win A Thriller.