Welsh Fire 138 for 6 (Clarke 69*, Atkinson 3-26) tied with Oval Invincibles 138 for 7 (Cox 51, T Curran 38*).
In front of 21,432 fans at the Kia Oval, Tom Curran hit an undefeated 38 from 18 balls as Oval Invincibles salvaged a tie against Welsh Fire in a final-ball drama.
Curran, who struck four sixes, needed three from the final ball and drove David Payne to deep square-leg, racing back for the second to avoid the fielder’s throw by the slimmest of margins as the scores tied at 138. Jordan Cox had made 51 off 43 balls when Fire struck back, with Ben Green grabbing two wickets to reduce the hosts to 100 for 6.
Joe Clarke led the visitors with 69 from 46 balls, while Invincible quick Gus Atkinson added to his burgeoning reputation with 3 for 26.
Welsh Fire got off to a quick start after winning the toss and electing to bat, as Clarke and Luke Wells put on 32 off 15 balls. However, Atkinson proceeded to turn the tide with three wickets in his first ten deliveries, including Fire captain Tom Abell, who was caught behind for a duck as the score fell to 43 for 4.
David Willey aided Clarke’s return before he was bowled for 13 by Zak Chappell, the only reward for the seamer who gave only 15 runs from 20 balls.
Green provided solid support for Clarke, hitting 25 off 16 balls, including two sixes. Clarke’s brilliant combination with Green continued as he smashed Chappell to the cover boundary to reach his half-century in 39 balls.
The 58-ball partnership was broken up by Tom Curran (2 for 27).
Tom Curran (2 for 27) interrupted the 58-ball partnership when Green was caught at deep midwicket as Fire recovered impressively to close the innings on 138 for 6.
Jason Roy was caught at gully off Shaheen Shah Afridi with the first ball of the home side’s reply. Will Jacks could have been removed early on when he swung Willey to deep square leg, but Green mishandled the chance as the ball sailed over the boundary for four.
Cox cut Willey for four after driving Afridi to the cover fence twice, and he continued to thrive in the powerplay by lifting David Payne over midwicket for a maximum.
Later in the set, Payne felt he had avenged himself when Cox appeared to be caught at third by Glenn Phillips, but a decision review revealed that the ball had bounced first. Soon after, Cox almost had another close call, nudging Haris Rauf barely past the diving Clarke for four.
Cox dominated the 58-ball partnership, which ended when Jacks was caught at long-off, with Green making amends for his earlier error.
Cox had achieved his half-century in 39 balls before being beautifully taken on the boundary by Green, who palmed the ball back and retained his balance to finish the catch.
Green then got two wickets in five balls, with Sam Curran and Heinrich Klaasen both caught in the deep, putting the pressure back on the hosts.
Curran hit a magnificent six off Payne that sailed out of the stadium with Oval needing 13 from five, before his final-ball agility salvaged a stalemate.
For more latest news in cricket visit INDIBET
