Power hitting helps Brave defeat Phoenix to claim Hundred title

Paul Stirling’s 61 from 36 balls set the tone as the Southern Brave defeated the Birmingham Phoenix by to claim the first men’s Hundred title.

Alongside Stirling, Ross Whiteley’s 44 from 19 launched the Brave to 168 from their 100 balls.

The Phoenix’s star batter Liam Livingstone got off to a flyer, before a brilliant run out by Tim David saw him depart for 46 from 19.

From there, the excellent seam attack of the Brave ensured their opponents didn’t get within touching distance of the total, the Phoenix eventually finishing on 136-5.

Quinton de Kock and Paul Stirling opened for the Brave, with the pair easing their way into the contest against Adam Milne before South African international de Kock played an audacious scoop for six off Dillon Pennington’s first ball.

Stirling launched Pennington into the stands later in the spell as the Southern Brave aimed for the fast start which helped them win yesterday’s eliminator against the Trent Rockets.

The breakthrough arrived through Miles as de Kock attempted one scoop too many and could only find Pennington to take a simple catch.

James Vince was next to the crease, fresh from making 45 not out against the Rockets, attempting to become the first captain to lift the men’s Hundred title.

The powerplay came to an end at 25-1 for the Brave, Stirling well placed on 14 from 12 balls to make a telling contribution in the contest. The Irishman’s huge sixes continued, including a 92m effort from Benny Howell’s first delivery.

Imran Tahir had claimed one of the moments of the competition when he performed his trademark celebration after claiming a hat-trick against the Welsh Fire earlier this month and the South African wheeled away again when bowling Vince for 4.

Stirling continued his aggressive approach and cut Pat Brown for identical back-to-back boundaries to move the Brave’s score to 65 from their opening 50 deliveries.

A six from Tahir brought Stirling his 50 from 31 balls, the Ireland international proving the catalyst for a potentially big Southern Brave total.

The opener would eventually depart for 61 from 36 after edging behind off Howell, the applause of the crowd and the celebrations of the Phoenix players to the wicket demonstrating the innings he’d played.

Tim David took the Brave over 100 with a huge six from Liam Livingstone before departing next ball to the off-spinner for a useful 15 from just five deliveries.

The firepower for the Brave continued as Ross Whiteley’s power complimented Alex Davies’ more measured approach, the score reaching 145 with 10 deliveries to go as Brown’s spell of five went for 18.

Davies departed as the final 10 started, the Lancashire batter steering Milne’s delivery straight to Tahir. Brave’s number four had played well for 27 from 20, rotating to allow the power hitting of Stirling, David and Whiteley could flourish.

Chris Jordan arrived next and progressed the score past 150 as Whiteley took aim for Pennington’s final five deliveries.

Six, four, six, single, single arrived from the five as the Southern Brave posted an imposing score of 167-5 from their 100 balls.

The Birmingham Phoenix’s reply got off to the worst possible start when David Bedingham was brilliantly caught by Tim David off the bowling of George Garton, captain Moeen Ali entering the crease sooner than planned.

Ali would get the Phoenix off the mark on the seventh ball of the innings, Craig Overton supporting Garton’s wicket maiden brilliantly by conceding only two runs from his opening five-ball spell.

Will Smeed departed for just two off Overton to bring Liam Livingstone to the crease and trigger huge cheers from the Lord’s crowd. It didn’t take long for the Lancashire batter to get up to the pace of the game, collecting three dots before launching Garton into the crowd in consecutive balls to leave the Birmingham Phoenix 28-2 after the powerplay.

Phoenix skipper Ali was spared a life when finding Overton in the deep off Jake Lintott, the fast bowler slipping as he went for what appeared to be a regulation catch.

Livingstone continued his onslaught much to the delight of the crowd as the England international cleared the rope time and time again.

His time at the crease would come to an end in spectacular fashion when run out by David. After a sliced effort in the deep, a failed catch attempt by Tymal Mills left Ali and Livingstone jogging back for an easy two.

Tim David picked up the ball and instantly threw to the keepers end, Livingstone short of his ground after a direct hit.

Miles Hammond couldn’t stay with Ali when pulling firmly into the deep off Mills and only finding Garton, who took a fantastic diving catch to dismiss the Gloucestershire batter for three.

After his earlier drop off Ali, Overton was sure to hang on when the England spinner presented another chance to him at long mid-on. Departing for 36 from 30 balls, some would have written the Phoenix’s chances off with the departure of their captain.

Benny Howell and Chris Benjamin were tasked with scoring 71 from the final 30 balls, the pair the last recognised batters for Ali’s team.

The rate was reduced to 54 from 20 after a productive five off Overton, the Phoenix opting to take their strategic timeout ahead of the finale.

A brilliant five-ball spell from Mills, costing only one run, put the Southern Brave one step closer to the Hundred title. Jordan followed him up brilliantly and suddenly the game was out of sight, the Phoenix requiring 50 from their final 10 deliveries.

The England bowler would eventually see the Brave home to win comfortably and claim the Hundred title, the power hitting of Stirling and Whiteley giving a brilliant total to defend before the Brave attack took regular wickets to limit their opponents.

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