London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles, HMC2023, Today Match Prediction 02 August 2023

LDN vs OVL Match Prediction & Analysis

Once Ashes 2023 comes to an end, cricket aficionados will be treated to the exhilarating return of The Hundred's third edition. This action-packed league will feature eight competing teams battling it out in 32 gripping group-stage matches. On August 1, all eyes will be on the season opener as Trent Rockets, the reigning champions, clash with Southern Brave in a much-awaited showdown. Two days later, London Spirit will take on Oval Invincibles at Lord's. The last time these two sides met, the Invincibles won comfortably by six wickets. Who will reign supreme this time?

RECENT PERFORMANCE

LDN

OVL

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

London Spirit Preview

London Spirit had a good last season, finishing third on the table with 10 points, 5 wins, and 3 losses from 8 games. The team will be led by Dan Lawrence this year. The middle-order batter, with a wealth of experience in T20 cricket, has featured in 99 games, amassing an impressive total of 2247 runs at an average of 27.07, and a strike rate of 142.

Ben McDermott was the team’s leading run-scorer last season with 157 runs in 5 innings at an average of 31.40. He also scored 59 off 38 balls in last year’s Eliminator against Manchester Originals, which London Spirit lost. McDermott is expected to play a vital role at the No. 3 position. 

Wicket-keeper batter Adam Rossington (180 runs from the last 10 matches at a strike rate of 171) is another batter who can make an impact at the top of the order, along with Zak Crawley, the team’s second-highest scorer last season.

When it comes to bowling, London Spirit will be banking on Jordan Thompson to deliver again. The right-arm seamer took 14 wickets for the team last year in 9 innings at an economy of 9.14. Leg-spinner Mason Crane, who took 12 wickets last season at an economy of 9.69, is another bowler worth backing in this team.

London Spirit Predicted Playing XI:

Adam Rossington (wk), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Zak Crawley, Ben McDermott, Daniel Lawrence (c), Ravi Bopara, Jordan Thompson, Liam Dawson, Nathan Ellis, Chris Wood, Mason Crane

London Spirit Actual Playing XI:

Adam Rossington, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Pepper, Nathan Ellis, Dan Lawrence, Jordan Thompson, Liam Dawson, Matt Critchley, Matthew Wade, Ravi Bopara, Daniel Worrall

Oval Invincibles Preview

Oval Invincibles had a lackluster performance last season, settling for the fifth spot on the table with 4 wins and 4 losses, and managing just 8 points. 

Opener Will Jacks was the team’s highest scorer last year, collecting 261 runs in just 7 innings, including an unbeaten 108. He has scored 344 runs in his last 9 matches at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 180. We are backing the stylish opener to deliver an aggressive start to the team in this match.

Jordan Cox, the team’s No. 3 batter last year, is also worth backing. As the Invincibles' second-leading run-getter, he notched up 191 runs in 6 innings, boasting an impressive average of 38.20 and a strike rate of 143.60.

Heinrich Klaasen can be the game-changer for the Invincibles this year. The hard-hitting batter is in sensational form at present. He was the second-highest run-getter in the inaugural season of the Major League Cricket recently, scoring 231 runs in 6 games at an incredible strike rate of 206.25, which included a breathtaking 110 not out of just 44 balls. 

Then, of course, there’s star all-rounder Sam Curran. He had a fantastic season in 2022, scoring 192 runs and taking 8 wickets. Curran is the team’s most important player and is in form. The all-rounder will make some impact in this match with either the ball or the bat.

The Invincibles also have Sunil Narine to depend on. The wily off-spinner was the team’s highest wicket-taker in 2022, with 11 scalps in 6 innings at an economy of just 6.05. Narine has been in form this year too, and has secured 12 wickets in his last 8 games at an economy of 6.41. Batters struggle to score runs against him and the Invincibles are likely to use him in the middle overs to put a leash on the run-scoring.

Oval Invincibles Predicted Playing XI:

Will Jacks, Jason Roy, Jordan Cox, Sam Billings (c & wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Sam Curran, James Neesham, Tom Curran, Sunil Narine, Danny Briggs, Adam Zampa, Tom Lawes

Oval Invincibles Actual Playing XI:

Gus Atkinson, Heinrich Klaasen, Jordan Cox, Jason Roy, Nathan Sowter, Sam Curran, Sam Billings, Sunil Narine, Tom Curran, Will Jacks, Zak Chappell

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

This will be the first match of the season to be played at the venue and the pitch is expected to be hard, with the ball coming on to the bat nicely. Seamers always get some purchase here, particularly with the new ball. But once the batters see off the first couple of overs, they can start milking runs. Spinners too will have their say on this pitch once the ball becomes softer.

The weather in London leading up to the game will be rainy. Some showers are expected during the day of the game, but it will be mostly cloudy.

LDN vs OVL Pitch Report

There have been a total of 10 games played at Lord’s in the men’s Hundred competition. Last year, the average score batting first here was 139. The highest total posted at the venue in the competition is 168-5 by Southern Brave against Birmingham Phoenix. The team batting first in this match would look to set a target of around 150 runs. 

Toss: To Bowl

Lord’s is generally a good venue for batting first. However, with rain expected in the afternoon, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to field first as it will be easier for them to chase a shortened target.