oval invincibles

A lifelong Arsenal fan recounts their journey from the late 90s, captivated by Bergkamp and the French revolution, through the 'Invincibles' era, and the subsequent years of near misses. This season, however, marks a triumphant return to contention, finally fulfilling a long-held hope for a title challenge after decades of anticipation.

Murud Janjira fort stands as India's sole unconquered fortress. Located off the Konkan coast, this sea fort defied all attempts at capture. Powerful forces like the Marathas, Portuguese, and British failed to breach its defenses. Its island geography, hidden entrance, strong walls, and superior artillery made it impregnable. The fort was eventually integrated into India politically, never militarily defeated.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has successfully acquired the oval invincibles franchise in The Hundred for £123 million, outbidding other competitors. This addition makes it the sixth global cricket team under their ownership, which already includes franchises such as Mumbai Indians in IPL and WPL, MI Cape Town, MI New York and MI Cape Town.

Jordan Cox's explosive 86 off 29 balls, including 10 sixes, powered oval invincibles to a record-breaking 226/4 in The Hundred. Cox's incredible hitting, along with contributions from Muyeye, Jacks, and Sam Curran, overwhelmed Welsh Fire, who fell short despite Bairstow's fifty, succumbing to a crushing 83-run defeat. This defeat was the third-biggest in terms of runs in The Hundred.

Reliance Industries Limited, owners of Mumbai Indians, acquired a 49% stake in London’s oval invincibles for around £61 million. The move positions MI as influential in English cricket governance. The highest anticipated bid is for The London Spirit franchise, expected to surpass £140 million. The ECB is selling stakes in all eight teams, aiming to financially benefit the counties.

The oval invincibles were crowned the inaugural winners of the Women's Hundred following a desperate Southern Brave collapse saw them bowled out for the lowest score of the competition at Lord's.

The oval invincibles clinched their maiden victory in the men's edition of The Hundred. Overcoming a challenging start, they orchestrated an impressive turnaround to defeat the Manchester Originals by a margin of 14 runs in the final showdown at Lord's on Sunday.

Surrey County Cricket Club announced their new partnership with Reliance Industries Limited, co-owning the oval invincibles franchise in The Hundred. RIL, through its subsidiary RISE Worldwide, will hold a 49 percent share, with Surrey holding 51 percent. Nita Ambani expressed excitement about expanding the MI fan base. This partnership will commence in late 2025.

In a bizarre interruption at Lord's, a fox stole the show during The Hundred 2025 opener between London Spirit and oval invincibles. The furry intruder halted play, sparking amusement among spectators and commentators alike. Despite the delay, oval invincibles secured a six-wicket victory, chasing down London Spirit's 81-run target with Rashid Khan's stellar performance earning him Player of the Match.

In a stunning debut, oval invincibles fast bowler Spencer Johnson produced the most economical 20-ball effort in The Hundred on Wednesday, claiming three wickets and conceding just one run.

Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is hopeful of featuring in the inaugural season of The Hundred for his side oval invincibles.

Tom Moody, former Australian all-rounder and current coach of oval invincibles, revisited Lord's Stadium, the site of his 1999 Cricket World Cup triumph, as he prepared his team for The Hundred final. Reflecting on Australia's rocky start in the 1999 tournament, Moody recalled how the team turned their campaign around, winning seven consecutive matches to claim the title.

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk is looking forward to leading the oval invincibles in the first match of the Hundred, English cricket's new domestic competition, in what she believes will be a landmark moment for the women's game.

Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited has partnered with Surrey County Cricket Club, acquiring 49% ownership of the oval invincibles franchise in The Hundred. Rebranded as MI London from 2026, the successful team, boasting five titles, will leverage Mumbai Indians' global expertise. This collaboration aims to nurture talent, engage diverse communities, and expand the franchise's commercial value.

Four Indian women cricketers -- Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma -- have been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Indian cricket board to participate in the inaugural Hundred, an eight-team tournament scheduled to start in England on July 21.

Birmingham Phoenix secured their first win in The Hundred 2025, defeating oval invincibles in a thrilling match. Rashid Khan's spectacular helicopter six was a highlight, but his bowling proved costly, conceding a record 59 runs. Liam Livingstone's explosive hitting turned the tide, leading Phoenix to a four-wicket victory despite a late wobble.

Faf du Plessis will captain the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred after replacing Aaron Finch, while New Zealand's Kane Williamson has also withdrawn, organisers said on Friday.

The 33-year-old will arrive at The Oval following the end of the IPL, where he plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, and will be available for Surrey's entire 2022 T20 campaign.

Southern Brave won the inaugural Hundred competition on Saturday, comfortably beating Birmingham Phoenix in the men's final at a packed Lord's after oval invincibles won the women's crown. Southern Brave scored 168/5 from their 100 balls with a bludgeoning 61 from Paul Stirling in 36 balls, while Ross Whiteley smashed 44 from 19 balls late on. In reply, Chasing an imposing total, Phoenix ended up on 136/5.

The Hundred 2025 began at Lord's with a nostalgic reunion for Sunrisers Hyderabad fans as David Warner and Kane Williamson batted together for London Spirit. Despite the heartwarming moment, oval invincibles dominated, bowling out Spirit for 80. Rashid Khan and Sam Curran starred with the ball. The Invincibles chased the target swiftly, winning by six wickets.