<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">The Hundred 2025 kicks off with a solid London derby &mdash; </span><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> at Lord&rsquo;s on August 5. Should be a cracking game to open the season.</span>

<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord&rsquo;s pitch will likely offer decent value for batters early on, but it slows up in the middle. Spinners and cutters could dominate overs 40&ndash;80 balls.</span>

<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Bookies are backing </span><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Oval Invincibles (1.58 odds)<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">, and honestly, they look the stronger side on paper &mdash; Jacks, Narine, the Currans &mdash; lots of all-round options. That said, London Spirit at </span><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">2.30 odds<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> is good value if Crawley or Thompson step up.</span>

<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">My Picks:

<ul style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<li style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; list-style-type: disc;"><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Winner:<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> Oval Invincibles</span></li>
<li style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; list-style-type: disc;"><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Top Batter:<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> Will Jacks</span></li>
<li style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; list-style-type: disc;"><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Top Bowler:<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> Sunil Narine</span></li>
<li style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; list-style-type: disc;"><strong style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Toss+Match Combo Value Bet:<span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> London Spirit @ 4.30 (for the brave)</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">For fantasy players, pick multi-skill guys &mdash; Jacks, Curran, Narine. And if Lord&rsquo;s has a bit of cloud cover, don&rsquo;t rule out early swing.</span>

<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Anyone else backing London Spirit here? Or going safe with the Invincibles?</span>

<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Also, if you want proper breakdowns and expert match tips for The Hundred, check out CricketBettingTips.org</span><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> &mdash; been following them for a while, sharp reads before every game.</span>

<p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Thoughts?</span>