The Hundred: London Spirit has the guts to beat Oval Invincibles

The game was over - The men of Oval Invincibles, who finished fourth last year, were heading for a heavy loss to London Spirit - last season's whippersnappers.

As it gets turned out, the Invincibles still lost, but their stubborn desire to bring it back to the Last Ball provided a finish and an opportunity to remember.

"The mood at the end was up there with the best I've been in," said Spirit bowler and Australia international Nathan Ellis, while recently retired England captain Eoin Morgan, World Cup winner, enthused that it was "as close to an international game as I've ever felt in a domestic game".

A as the balls rolled into the stands, the cheers of a previously quiet, sold-out crowd grew louder.< /p>

Game? You bet.

Wide after wide and ballless after ballless was bowled by Spirit bowlers at as things got tense and home fans rose to celebrate.

With a ball to play and a six needed for the hosts to claim an extraordinary victory, a huge roar went around the floor as almost everyone stood to their feet.

A young girl, sitting below the press box, had her hands on her head - her face was a picture of disbelief.

In the end, West Indian international all-rounder Sunil Narine only managed a leg-bye when he needed a frontier.

The Invincibles had finally been beaten by their city rivals, but 22,284 fans cheered, cheered, and walked off in full amusement.

The most notable passage of the game is came when, needing 37 of the last 10 balls having previously been out of the game at 12-4, the Invincibles scored 20 of the next five.

There was a six by Narine and a four by Danny Briggs, but Spirit bowler Chris Wood also bowled a no-ball and three wide.

Spirit seemed shaken, even more so when Briggs c started the next ball with back-to-back fours. However, 25-year-old versatile Spirit Jordan Thompson kept his cool, even as he played one wide.

"I felt as close to an international game as I have ever felt in a domestic game, maybe other than India when you have that pressure as a foreign player "said the captain of Spirit Morgan, who reunited with ex-England manager Trevor Bayliss at the Lord-based side.

"It's amazing: young Jordan Thompson, exposed to this, it will do wonders for him and it's great for English cricket to have players who get used to it to play in those pressure situations."

Morgan was his typical calmness in the final moments, speaking to his bowlers and calming the nerves.

When later asked how nervous he felt, Ellis replied "very", but announced ded: "Morgs is really good in these situations.

"He is very experienced and as a bowler you have his calming influence telling you to calm down and slow down. "

For the Invincibles, Briggs was almost the unlikely hero. He is a spin pitcher not a hitter and came in at number nine in order.

He found himself on 29 steps on 11 balls, one hit from victory. In modern cricket, we're beginning to expect the unexpected - even if it sometimes doesn't happen.

" It was a lot of fun," Briggs said. "Sunil Nostril on the other end keeps you calm and the crowd was on their feet.

"You can't complain. He was one of those we could have lost from afar. We got closer."

The Invincibles got closer - much closer than anyone expected .

There are valid and overarching concerns surrounding The Hundred - the fact that many cricket fans in the county feel ignored and added pressure to schedules to name but two.