The Hundred gets a wild visitor: A fox interrupts play at Lord's
The Hundred opened with an unusual sight at Lord's, as the Oval Invincibles kicked off the tournament against the London Spirit. While not an ideal situation, cricket has witnessed various members of the fauna interrupting play across different regions. Lord's, however, saw a fox make its first-ever appearance during a professional match. As the Oval Invincibles edged closer to a comfortable win over the London Spirit in The Hundred opener, a fox darted across the field, drawing gasps and laughter from the crowd and briefly halting the game.
An unexpected pitch invader halts The Hundred opener at Lord's. 🦊🧐
— OneTurf News (@oneturf_news) August 6, 2025
📸: The Hundred/X#oneturfnews #thehundred #fox #pitchinvader #londonspirit #ovalinvincibles #cricket pic.twitter.com/3KXzlGF4s5
From stray dogs in the sub-continent to adamant seagulls in the Big Bash League, the game of cricket has often struck the attention of the wilds. Monitor lizards, snakes, and bees swarming the game, such visits are not a surprise anymore. However, as the scene set up for The Hundred to launch in action, the T20 league scripted the addition of another name in the list of surprise visitors. The 'Home of Cricket' this time saw a fox interrupting the game. The animal sprinted across the turf and eventually made its exit by leaping over the boundary hoardings, bringing an unusual pause to the evening.
Meanwhile, The Hundred opener was a display of total domination by Oval Invincibles over London Spirit. Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan headlined the Invincibles' charge against London as he tore through the middle over of the opposition. Making his return to competitive cricket after a short break following IPL 2025, the Afghan leg-spinner turned in a masterclass, finishing with figures of 3 for 11 off 20 deliveries. Adding the impact, Sam Curran complemented Rashid well with a tight 3/18, ensuring the batting side was bowled out for a meagre 80.
Never saw a fox on the cricket field before. 😭pic.twitter.com/nOgZPHhxs2
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) August 5, 2025
Despite the buzz around marquee names like David Warner and Kane Williamson, the much-hyped contest between the two veterans fizzled out, with neither making a meaningful contribution. Chasing a modest target, the Invincibles adopted a calm and composed approach. Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye anchored the innings with a 34-run partnership off 32 balls. Though a few wickets fell, the result was never in doubt. They wrapped up a dominant six-wicket win with 14 deliveries left. While Rashid Khan starred in the match, the fox ultimately stole the show at Lord's.
