Brave beat Phoenix in Super Five to reach Hundred final

The Hundred men's competition, The Kia Oval

Southern Brave 126-6 (100 balls): Vince 43 (35); Milne 3-18

Birmingham Phoenix 126-7 (100 balls): Livingstone 55 (34); Mills 3-23

Match tied - Brave won after Super Five

Scorecard

Southern Brave are through to The Hundred final after a remarkable Eliminator against Birmingham Phoenix was decided by the first Super Five in the tournament's history.

Liam Livingstone took Phoenix to the brink of victory in regulation play with a brutal half-century but he fell with three runs needed and Brave spinner Akeal Hosein conceded just two from his last three balls, resulting in a tie.

Jofra Archer then had Livingstone caught from the first ball of the Super Five and restricted Phoenix to just seven from the extra five deliveries.

A Chris Jordan boundary got Brave over the line with a ball to spare to set up a final against defending champions Oval Invincibles at Lord's on Sunday evening.

That prospect looked a long way off when Livingstone hit a Hosein no-ball for six to bring the equation down to three needed from four balls.

But he failed to connect with the free hit and then holed out next ball to give Brave a chance - one they ultimately took to progress to their first final since winning the inaugural tournament in 2021.

James Vince reached 400 runs in the tournament this year as he top-scored with 43 to take Brave to 126-6.

But, even on a bowler-friendly surface, it was Phoenix who appeared to have the upper hand at the interval after an impressive bowling effort, headlined by Adam Milne’s 3-18.

The Brave bowlers were yet to have their say, though, and an equally strong display put Phoenix under pressure at 45-3 halfway through the chase.

The turning point appeared to come when Livingstone was dropped on seven by Leus du Plooy, which sparked the England all-rounder into life.

He bludgeoned four sixes in a near match-winning knock but he could not finish the job, Brave held their nerve and will now play for their second Hundred men's title.

Brave edge battle of brilliant bowling attacks

This was a clash of two of the most potent bowling units in The Hundred and on a slow pitch it always felt the attack that executed best would come out on top.

In a low-scoring affair, the margin for error was that much smaller. Few could have predicted just how fine that margin would be.

Had Livingstone been content to push a single with three needed rather than attempt to end the game in one shot, the outcome may have been different.

But equally, that was the approach that took a faltering Phoenix chase and put them within touching distance of the final.

Despite how it ended, it was an innings of immense grit, determination and quality - and made all the better by the standard of the bowling he faced.

Archer was superb to an extent that figures of 1-29 do no justice, so too was Craig Overton up top, while Tymal Mills' ability to switch seamlessly between 90mph thunderbolts and perfectly-disguised slower balls brought him fine figures of 3-23.

Jordan, who struck a crucial unbeaten 20 from nine balls with the bat, went wicketless but he, too, played his part with the ball late on.

None was calmer under pressure, though, than Hosein. His overstep appeared to have decided the game in Phoenix's favour but he showed nerves of steel to recover the situation.

It was Archer, the superstar of a high-class attack, trusted to deliver in the Super Five and there seemed little doubt he would do so.

The batters so often take the headlines - and Livingstone nearly did here - but Archer and co showed once again that bowlers really make the difference in short-format games.

'I thought I gave it away' - reaction

Southern Brave's Jofra Archer speaking to Sky Sports: "Just relief. I thought I gave it away, second last over against Livingstone.

"I feel you just got to commit to it [in the Super Five]. Some days it happens for you and some days it doesn’t and I’m just glad that today was one of those days it worked for me."

What is happening on Sunday?

It's Finals Day on Sunday. Lord's hosts as Welsh Fire take on London Spirit for the women's title at 14:15 BST.

Then it is the men's final. Oval Invincibles face Southern Brave from 18:00.

You will be able to watch both games lives on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

You can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.