34,000km trip to bowl 20 balls: why Zampa's worth it

It might seem hugely extravagant but this time the handsomely-funded Invincibles have snapped up the 33-year-old, who's been on international duty, for just one game as a replacement for another spin maestro Rashid Khan, who's been called up to play for Afghanistan.  

But the Invincibles reckon Zampa's worth it. They know just how valuable his wiles can be after his two key wickets, that took him to a joint tournament-best tally of 19 for the season, helped them beat the Southern Brave in last year's final.

On the eve of Sunday's (Monday AEST) final, Zampa and teammate, paceman Jason Behrendorff, learned there'll be a third Australian in action in the showdown as the Marcus Stoinis-powered Trent Rockets were confirmed as their opponents.

The semi-final 'eliminator' proved a washout at the Oval on Saturday (Sunday AEST) when the rains came after the Northern Superchargers had made 5-119 and the Rockets had made just 12 off five balls in reply.

The no-result, with the game being called off just before 10pm, meant the Rockets, who also have Joe Root in their ranks, went through to the final as the better-placed team in the league standings.

It leaves a quick turnaround for Stoinis, who had taken a couple of illustrious scalps in the shape of Harry Brook and David Miller before the rains came, as he gets ready to tackle his great friend Zampa in the showdown.

The Invincibles beat the Rockets in the group stage after some amazing late hitting from Sam Curran and Jordan Cox. 

"It was a good contest," said Stoinis. "We probably had the better of them for the majority of that game and they played really well. 

"Credit to them for winning… It was some of the best hitting that there's been in any cricket, really."

And the good news for Zampa? His marathon trip isn't expected to be rendered pointless by any further rain.