Oval Invincibles romped to victory under the lights at the Oval as the fourth year of the Hundred got under way. The pace duo of Saqib Mahmood and Mohammad Amir ripped the heart out of Birmingham Phoenix’s batting lineup, after Moeen Ali won the toss and decided to bat, reducing the visitors to 10 for four after just 17 balls.

Amir and Mahmood took two wickets apiece. After Amanda-Jade Wellington took three for nine for the Oval Invincibles women’s team in the day’s first game, another Australian leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, replicated that success with three for 11.

Jacob Bethell and Benny Howell did their best to repair the top‑order ­damage for Phoenix, but their eventual total of 89 never looked enough. In reply Invincibles, the defending men’s champions, waltzed to an eight‑wicket win with 31 balls left. Sam ­Billings, the captain, added some late hitting after Tawanda ­Muyeye had given the crowd of 23,621 a glimpse of his talent with a 14-ball 23.

Zampa said: “It was nice to start that way, especially at home, and it was good for us to continue our ­success from last year. It’s a good ­feeling and it’s nice to be in the ­winner’s ­circle straight away. It’s a really enjoyable competition, I love playing in the Hundred. You feel like it’s a really alien concept but once you’re ­playing in it, it’s Twenty20 cricket with a ­couple of tactical changes.”

Earlier, a sparkling 71 from Paige Scholfield took the Invincibles ­women’s side to a 45-run victory against Birmingham Phoenix.

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After the two-time champions were put in to bat, the 28-year-old – enjoying a new role at the top of the order in the absence of the Sri Lanka captain, Chamari ­Athapaththu – found admirable company with England’s Alice Capsey, who made 52.

The pair put on 90 for the ­second wicket and appeared to be ­threatening a record score before a flurry of late wickets pegged back ­Invincibles’ progress.

Defending 150, the odds were in the home team’s favour and when Birmingham lost three wickets with the score on 32 their fate was ­effectively secured. The New ­Zealand captain, Sophie Devine, and Amy Jones put up some resistance but Invincibles’ bowling attack – and in particular the leg-spinner Jade ­Wellington – proved too strong.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” Scholfield said. “It’s the first time I’ve opened so I was a bit nervous but I had Lozzy [Lauren Winfield‑Hill] there helping me through those first 10 balls and I got a nice feel for the pitch.”

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