Oval Invincibles sealed their second successive Hundred title with a comprehensive 17-run win over Southern Brave in an action-packed final at Lord's. Southern Brave lost the plot dramatically while chasing 148, losing ten wickets for 44 runs from an impressive start of 58 without loss to finish the innings at a disappointing 102-7, thereby allowing Invincibles to dominate the game.

The innings of the Brave got off to a great start with openers Alex Davies and James Vince laying the platform. However, their charge was nipped in the bud through some vital breakthroughs. Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa struck first before fast bowler Saqib Mahmood responded with the ball, ripping apart the Brave middle order with a remarkable three-wicket spell in seven balls.

Invincibles' own innings had a scratchy start, with the key player Will Jacks contributing a quickfire 37 off 22 balls. The strong performance notwithstanding, no other batter could do much to substantially stretch that score, though Sam Curran's 25 and Tom Curran's quick 24 off 11 balls proved useful. Tymal Mills did most of the damage with ball in hand for Brave, taking 3-33 and making a good fight.

The chase from the Brave was confident early before falling apart after Davies was dismissed for 35. Vince was good throughout the tournament, made 24, but could not arrest the slide. The game-changing spell from Mahmood removed Leus du Plooy for 20 and sent Kieron Pollard and Laurie Evans off in quick succession.

A strong total to defend saw Invincibles not panic. Zampa, who ended up as one of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament alongside Mills, came up with the right breaks. Even though the Brave's openers got off to a good start, Invincibles' bowlers held their nerve and carried out their plans to seal the win with relative ease.

The Invincibles have made it a habit to be taken seriously as a force in the men's Hundred over the past two years. For them, it was all about consistency and hitting out when it really mattered. Jacks's attacking start in the final, which included the memorable six off Jofra Archer, set the tone for the innings. Even as they fell back briefly, Tom Curran's late runs ensured that they got a competitive total on board.

The team's bowling performance was equally good, with Zampa and Mahmood at the forefront of things. It was Mahmood's spell in particular that stopped the Brave's chase and won them the title. Zampa was outstanding throughout, finishing as a joint-leading wicket-taker with 19.

The triumph of the Invincibles thus reflected in the post-match reactions. Team captain Sam Billings termed it as a collective effort and said their performance in this tournament was much better than what it was last year, adding that Mahmood's contribution in changing the momentum of the game was imperative. Zampa said he loved the tournament and lauded the greatly organized event. Southern Brave's Laurie Evans, despite disappointment, acknowledged the strength of the Invincibles.

Right from the start, one of the staunch believers in victory was Mahmood, who also spoke of personal ambitions, as he wanted to use this as a platform to get into the England white-ball side again. The efforts really paid off, just like all other team efforts, massively contributing to the Invincibles retaining the title.