Joe McConnell
Chris Jordan led the Southern Brave to a thrilling victory over Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred Eliminator, hitting two boundaries in the Super 5 decider after the scores had finished level at the Kia Oval.
Both the Brave and Phoenix scored 126 runs in their 100-ball overs to clinch the Super 5, with Jofra Archer (1-6), who famously led England to World Cup glory in 2019 in similar fashion, once again handed the ball for the Brave.
Archer took the wicket of Liam Livingstone (0) with his first ball, but Jacob Bethell (5) played a fuller delivery towards the wide boundary before being run out by Leus du Plooy, while Jamie Smith added a single as Phoenix scored seven runs from his five deliveries.
In response, Jordan (10no) outscored Adam Milne (0-11) in the empty end of the leg for four points before adding a couple of points at length thanks to some fine runs from his teammate Kieron Pollard (1no).
Jordan then sealed the deal in style when he hammered Milne through mid-wicket for the winning boundary with one ball to spare to book the Brave’s place in Sunday’s final at Lord’s where they will meet the Oval Invincibles live Vscek Cricket.
Earlier in the match, Liam Livingstone (55) had smashed his third half-century of The Hundred as Birmingham Phoenix looked on course for victory. However, tight bowling from Brave’s Akeal Hosein (2-10), who had removed Livingstone in the final set, helped the scores end in a draw as Phoenix posted 126-6.
Brave captain James Vince (43) and Du Plooy (39) had regained control earlier, sharing a 76-run partnership to set up a score of 126-7 after losing opener Alex Davies (0) with the second ball of the match.
Courageous rebuilding after a shaky start
Adam Milne (3-18) made an immediate impact for Birmingham Phoenix by removing Alex Davies (0) for a duck with the second ball of the match as the Southern Brave opener caught a thick outside edge that found Benny Howell at the gully.
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Adam Milne stars with the ball as he takes three wickets for Birmingham Phoenix against Southern Brave
James Vince (43) and Leus du Plooy (39) helped the Braves rebuild with a 76-run partnership to take their side to 76-1 before the latter became Milne’s second victim with a slow leg-cutter that he picked up straight to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Brave captain Vince, the leading run-scorer in The Hundred this year, was left seven runs shy of a half-century mark after misjudging a knuckleball from Howell (1-14) that saw him catch the ball deep into mid-wicket.
Kieron Pollard’s (2) outing lasted just five balls, as the West Indies international fell to a short ball from Chris Wood (1-25), flicking it straight into the hands of Dan Mousley.
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Benny Howell dives for a superb catch as Birmingham Phoenix take an early first wicket against Southern Brave
Laurie Evans (14) briefly looked dangerous when he hit the match-winning six on long-off to take Brave into triple figures, but was out on the next delivery by Milne after holed out on long-on.
Jacob Bethell made a stunning volley catch in deep back square to see off James Cole (4) off the bowling of Sean Abbott.
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Jacob Bethell makes a superb catch that allowed the Birmingham Phoenix player to narrowly avoid the boundary rope
Jofra Archer (1no) added a single before Chris Jordan (20no) ended the innings with authority, hitting consecutive sixes off Abbott to lift the Brave to 126-6.
Livingstone’s Brilliant 55 in Vain
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Moeen Ali was caught just outside the boundary after hitting it straight at Laurie Evans
Birmingham Phoenix got off to a shaky start in the Brave’s 126-6 thrashing when opener Ben Duckett (7) was run out in single figures for the first time in the tournament after holed Craig Overton in a wide long-on where Pollard completed the catch by running backwards.
Jamie Smith (10) scored two consecutive goals in his own half, but struggled to make a decisive impact for Phoenix after being sent off by Tymal Mills (2-23).
Moeen Ali (24) and Liam Livingstone (55) initially struggled against the Braves’ formidable pace attack, adding 19 runs to their partnership at the third wicket, with captain Moeen falling midway through the chase after sweeping the ground to mid-wicket when his team still needed 82.
Archer eliminated Dan Mousley (2) with the final ball of his allotted sets, while teammate Mills eliminated Benny Howell (2), leaving Phoenix at 111-6.
Livingstone continued to push and became the first player to hit 50 sixes in the tournament, as he raised Phoenix’s hopes after being dropped over the boundary rope on seven by Du Plooy. He smashed four sixes and three boundaries in his 34-ball outing, but holed Akeal Hosein (2-30) out for square leg, leaving Brave needing three runs from two balls to win.
Milne (1no) and Sean Abbott (1no) shared a couple of points to level the match and take it to a Super 5, but Livingstone’s half-century was in vain after Brave dominated in the Super 5.
Archer: Today went the way I wanted.
Player of the match, Jofra Archer:
“I’m just relieved, to be honest. I thought I’d given it away in the penultimate over.
“You just have to put in the effort [in the Super 5]. Sometimes it goes well for you, sometimes it doesn’t. Today went well for me.
“We have 11 match winners and even the guys who aren’t in the 11 are match winners. We have so much talent.
“It doesn’t matter what team we field, I support us.”
What will happen now?
Brave of the South will then assume The Invincible Ovals in the men’s final at the same location, live on Vscek Cricket from 5.30pm on Sunday.
Vscek+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, the NOW streaming service and the Vscek app, giving Vscek customers access to over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
