Crank up the excitement! After 33 grueling matches, D-Day has arrived, which we all have been waiting for in the fourth edition of The Hundred. The Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave lock horns in the final showdown of the event at the ‘Mecca of Cricket’ The Lord’s on August 18.
The defending champions, Oval Invincibles, secured direct qualification for the final of The Hundred 2024 by topping the league table with 12 points. Sam Billings’ side has gelled well as a unit throughout the tournament, winning six out of their eight league matches. They will aim to continue their impressive form and clinch back-to-back titles in The Hundred Men’s competition.
On the other hand, Southern Brave finished third on the points table with eleven points from eight games. James Vince’s side put on a phenomenal performance in the eliminator against Phoenix, snatching victory from their opponents. They defeated Moeen Ali’s Phoenix in the Super Five to secure their place in the summit clash of The Hundred 2024. 
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s. Let’s dive into the match predictions, probable playing XIs, head-to-head records, pitch report, stats, top players, and key player matchups to watch.
Lord’s, London Pitch Report
The pitch at Lord’s favoured the bowlers in the first two matches of the season at this venue, but it has become more conducive to batting in the last two encounters. Pacers are expected to get some sideways movement with the new ball, while spinners have received minimal assistance. The toss-winning captain might opt to bowl first.
Lord’s, London Pitch Stats (The Hundred 2024)
Matches: 4
Matches won batting first: 2
Matches won batting second: 2
Average first innings total: 126
Average second innings total: 117
Highest total recorded: 147/5 (100 balls) by Oval Invincibles vs London Spirit
Lowest total recorded: 94/9 (100 balls) by Welsh Fire vs London Spirit
OVI vs SOB Probable Playing XI
Southern Brave: James Vince (c), Alex Davies (wk), Leus du Plooy, James Coles, Laurie Evans, Kieron Pollard, Chris Jordan, Akeal Hosein, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills
Oval Invincibles: Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Jordan Cox, Sam Billings (c & wk), Sam Curran, Donovan Ferreira, Tom Lammonby, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Nathan Sowter, Adam Zampa
OVI vs SOB Head-to-Head
Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave have locked horns five times in Men’s Hundred history, with Invincibles dominating the battle 3-1.
OVI vs SOB Top Players Predictions
Sam Curran (OVI): The 26-year-old all-rounder has had a dream season so far in The Hundred tournament, excelling with both bat and ball. He has been impressive with the ball and has delivered several scintillating innings for the Invincibles. Sam Curran has accumulated 176 runs in five innings and taken 17 wickets in eight innings during The Hundred 2024. He will aim to shine once more with both bat and ball in the final and help his side defend the title.
Adam Zampa (OVI): The Australian spinner has troubled the batters with his bowling prowess in the ongoing The Hundred tournament. He has scalped 17 wickets in eight innings and will play a crucial role for the Invincibles in containing runs in the middle phase.
James Vince (SOB): The Southern Brave skipper is the leading run scorer in The Hundred 2024, with 400 runs in nine innings. He is the only batter in the ongoing competition to score over 300 runs. The right-hander has smashed 43 runs in the Eliminator game and will likely play a crucial role for Brave in the final match as well.
OVI vs SOB Hit or Miss Prediction
Jofra Archer (SOB): The English speedster was the star for Brave in the eliminator, conceding just seven runs in the super set and helping his side advance into the final. He was awarded Hero of the Match for his impressive bowling. Archer has claimed seven wickets in seven innings in the ongoing The Hundred tournament and will aim to contribute with the ball in the grand finale.
OVI vs SOB Key Player Matchups to Watch Out For
- James Vince vs Spencer Johnson
- Kieron Pollard vs Adam Zampa
- Sam Curran vs Tymal Mills
OVI vs SOB Match Predictions
Will Jacks hasn’t looked promising as an opener for the Invincibles in this edition’s The Hundred, and they are likely to lose their first wicket under 20.5 runs (1.85). On the other hand, the Brave are expected to add over 20.5 runs (1.85) for the first wicket. James Vince is in scintillating form and will likely score over 22.5 runs (1.85). The Odds.
OVI vs SOB Winner Prediction
Southern Brave have a strong bowling attack and batting lineup, while the Invincibles have mostly relied on the performances of Sam Curran and Adam Zampa this season. Considering the current form of their players, James Vince’s side is likely to prevail in the contest and clinch the trophy.
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