Brave reach Hundred final after Super Five thriller

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Brave reach Hundred final after Super Five thriller

Southern Brave have beaten Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred’s first-ever Super Five contest after scores were tied, booking their place in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Chris Jordan was the match-winner in Saturday’s nerve-shredding encounter at Kia Oval, hitting 10 from three ****** to surpass Phoenix’s total of seven from their Super Five.

Liam Livingstone had looked set to take Phoenix to The Hundred final with his 55, which included a huge six from an Akeal Hosein no-ball to leave Birmingham needing three runs from five ******.

But Hosein dismissed Livingstone with his next delivery and defended to leave the scores locked at 126-126, bringing around the first-ever Super Five.

In the first innings of the match, James Vince made 43 for Southern Brave and Leus du Plooy 39. Jordan (20 not out) struck two sixes in the final over bowled by Australia’s Sean Abbott (1-32) which would ultimately prove crucial – a taste of things to come from the bat of the England all-rounder.

Phoenix’s run chase got off to a slow start, but with contributions from captain Moeen Ali (24) and Jacob Bethell (17) the Birmingham side began to close down on the target.

Livingstone was in full control – hitting Jofra Archer out of the ground – but his dismissal and some late drama saw the scores levelled.

Batting first in the five-******-per-side contest, Livingstone was unable to atone for his late dismissal – falling first ball when flashing a full toss from Archer to backward point.

Bethell smashed the second ball wide of long on for four, but no more boundaries were forthcoming, leaving Jordan and Kieron Pollard needing to surpass seven to make the Lord’s final.

Jordan got a slice of luck to inside edge his first delivery for four behind square on the leg-side, and followed up with a two and another boundary to see Brave make the Hundred Final for the second time.

Archer, who was the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “Just relieved to be honest, I thought I’d given it away in that second to last over.”

On his last three deliveries, he said: “You’ve just got to commit to it. Some days it happens for you and some days it doesn’t, and I’m just glad today is one of the days that it worked for me.”

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