The Analysis: Mahmood insight and Ahmad dominates as Invincibles beat Fire

NICK HOWSON looks at the best of the action in the men's Hundred as Oval Invincibles hosted Welsh Fire

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Gough on Mahmood

Darren Gough was a welcome addition to the Sky commentary box for the double-header at The Kia Oval.

Given the glowing reference Saqib Mahmood gave the former England quick after spending time coaching him in South Africa, we had the prospect of getting a new insight into the Lancashire quick.

The pair worked on seam position, run-up and pace during the New Zealand tour in 2019, which he was then able to implement in South Africa when Gough presented him with his cap.

Mahmood enjoyed a fine white-ball summer with England after benefitting from the main squad being plunged into isolation.

His technique was picked apart by Gough before the game using the avatars which were built before the tournament, which have only been rolled out fleetingly by the broadcasters.

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And when Mahmood was handed the new ball he was equally as impressive, outlining what the pair have worked on in the recent past.

Unless you listen to Talksport, where the Yorkshireman is asked to comment on football transfers as often as cricket, Gough's is not a voice you'll be that familiar with.

But it helped freshen up the coverage - he is still an entertaining figure - and provided some much-needed insight that, if there is a criticism to be made, has sometimes been lacking amid the bluster of the 200 balls.

New deal Neesham

Jimmy Neesham was this morning confirmed to remain with Welsh Fire for the remainder of The Hundred as an overseas replacement for Lungi Ngidi.

Ngidi joined up with the Cardiff-based franchise last week after being on South Africa duty but will now return home.

The change follows the loss of Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett, with Graeme White and Matt Milnes added to the group.

Neesham, the New Zealand international, will therefore not return to Essex for their Royal London One-Day campaign having only intended to play three games for the Fire.

He's enjoyed a decent tournament, scoring an unbeaten 30 in the opening game and taking 3 for 5 in the clash with Southern Brave.

But having extended his deal, it was slightly inevitable that Neesham's first outing would fall flat.

Indeed, the first ball from Tom Curran he got a pull into the stands all wrong, catching the bottom edge and Sam Billings did the rest.

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Neesham is signed up to stay with Welsh Fire for the rest of the men's Hundred

Tom Curran puts his hand up

"You guys say I haven't had a good run of form, but to be honest I've felt pretty good bowling."

The Surrey and England bowling allrounder was pretty waspish following his return to form against Sri Lanka at Bristol last month.

Tom is certainly the most vulnerable of England current T20 set-up to being jettisoned before the World Cup.

Tymal Mills and Chris Jordan's performance the other night against Eoin Morgan's London Spirit will certainly have added to any anxiety he might have over his place.

Credit where credit is due, Curran responded with the ball tonight. There was a nice combination of short deliveries, slower balls out of the back of the hand, inswingers tucking the batters up and length balls that went through attacking strokes.

He picked up three deserved wickets and two in a row as Leus du Plooy and Neesham departed from the 71st and 72nd balls.

Then Curran frustrated Ben Duckett, who got to his half-century but couldn't push on and set an imposing total. That had a lot to do with the right-arm quick.

Invincibles captain Sam Billings was probably guilty of getting a tad giddy and kept Curran on for the second set of five to close the innings. Sixteen runs later it would be fair to say the gamble didn't pay off.

Nevertheless, it was a timely message from the 26-year-old.

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Tom Curran was much-improved at various intervals of the Invincibles bowling effort

A Qais of third time lucky

As match-ups go, this was not one of the more competitive ones.

Qais Ahmad has the wood over Colin Ingram from ball one of his spell and it was a little disconcerting watching the South African try and find a way to survive.

He was unable to pick Ahmad variations, particularly when he came from wide on the crease and produced big leg-spinners which angled in and beat him on the inside.

It was that delivery that saw him given out via the 31st ball of the Invincibles chase, but DRS adjudge the ball was sliding past leg-stump.

Ingram went on the attack from the next ball (who wouldn't?) and missed again, with Tom Banton claimed a stumping. Again, the technology survived.

The examination continued as Ahmad was kept on for two sets of five, which went for just six as Welsh Fire staged a comeback in the second half of the game.

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Qais Ahmad celebrates

But when he got a look at Ingram again, the Afghanistan spinner was third time lucky. Ingram went on the sweep again, missed and was struck in front. This time the TV footage went against him and his misery was mercifully ended.

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