Oval Invincibles were able to call upon some timely Australian spin assistance as the new Hundred series got under way in London with wins for both the men's and women's sides.
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The Invincibles' men's pace duo of Saqib Mahmood and Mohammad Amir ripped the heart out of Birmingham Phoenix's first-innings effort under the Oval floodlights on Tuesday, reducing them to 4-10 after just 17 balls.
Amir and Mahmood took two wickets apiece before - following on from Amanda-Jade Wellington's fine 3-9 for the Invincibles women's team in the opening fixture - another Aussie leg-spinner in the shape of Adam Zampa replicated her success in the evening match with 3-11.
Jacob Bethell and Benny Howell did their best to repair the damage for Phoenix, but their eventual total of 89 never looked enough.
In reply, Invincibles waltzed to an eight-wicket win, captain Sam Billings adding some late hitting, after Tawanda Muyeye struck a 14-ball 23.
Zampa's three-wicket haul came in only seven balls and the 32-year-old NSW-born spinner 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 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, I love it."
Zampa told the BBC he was happy with his form and added he felt it's come from plying his trade at the top level for some time.
"It's a bit of everything. I've got a lot of cricket under my belt now and I feel really confident where I can land the ball and put it, which helps from a tactical point of things," he said.
Earlier, a sparkling 71 from Paige Schofield took the Invincibles to a dominant 45-run victory against Phoenix in the women's clash.
Scholfield found admirable company in England youngster Alice Capsey (51) as they put on 90 for the second wicket .
And when Phoenix lost three early wickets in reply -including the run out of their own Australian star in Ellyse Perry for a duck, their fate looked sealed.
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Amy Jones put up resistance for the visitors, but the Invincibles' bowling attack - and in particular Wellington - proved too strong and sealed a 45-run win.
Australian Associated Press
