LONDON, CMC – Former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran blasted his second straight Man-of-the-Match half-century as Northern Superchargers won their second on the bounce with a 19-run verdict over Oval Invincibles in the Hundred here yesterday.
The left-hander carved out an unbeaten 65 off 41 deliveries, a knock that underpinned the visitors’ 145 for five after they were sent in at the Oval.
Pooran struck four fours and four sixes, dominating a 36-run, third wicket partnership with captain Harry Brook (6) to help pull his side around from 22 for two, before adding a further 31 for the fourth wicket with Adam Hose (18) and 39 for the fifth wicket with Ollie Robinson (20).
In reply, the Invincibles were restricted to 126 for nine off their 100 deliveries, seamers Matthew Potts (2-18) and Jordan Clark (2-26), along with leg-spinner Adil Rashid (2-28), all finishing with two wickets each.
Donovan Ferreira belted a top score of 49 from 24 balls with two fours and five sixes but the Invincibles struggled to recover after losing their top order cheaply.Pooran’s fifty came on the heels of his 62 against Southern Brave in a winning cause on Tuesday.
At Lord’s on Thursday, dashing West Indies left-hander Shimron Hetmyer punched an unbeaten 30 off 21 balls to help London Spirit to their first win, the hosts chasing down Welsh Fire’s 94 and to get over the line by three wickets with 13 balls to spare.
With the run chase in trouble at 38 for four after 44 deliveries, Hetmyer arrived to lash two fours and two sixes and inspire a 46-run fifth wicket stand with captain Dan Lawrence (29), which allowed for a recovery.
When Lawrence, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell (0) and Liam Dawson (4) perished cheaply in the space of seven deliveries, the game moved back into the balance but Hetmyer quickly allayed his side’s concerns.
