Sam Drury
BBC Sport cricket writer

Nat Sciver hit a stunning unbeaten 72 from 36 balls but Trent Rockets came up just short as Southern Brave held their nerve to win by two runs and progress to the Hundred final.

With 22 needed from the last four balls, all looked lost for the Rockets, only for Sciver to hit Tahlia McGrath for three towering sixes in a row and set up a thrilling last-ball finish.

McGrath, who had played a key role with bat and ball prior to Sciver’s onslaught, kept her cool, though, and restricted the Rockets all-rounder to just a single from the last with a well-executed yorker.

The Brave will now face defending champions Oval Invincibles at Lord’s on Saturday in a repeat of last year’s final.

• Pick your men's & women's team of The Hundred

After being asked to bat first, the Brave lost their much-vaunted top three of Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley cheaply and it was left to the middle order to rescue the innings.

McGrath made an entertaining 31 from 29 balls, her highest score of the tournament, with Maia Bouchier adding 29 from 24 before Georgia Adams took over late in the innings.

The all-rounder, 28, hit two sixes before falling to the last ball for a 24-ball 38 as the Brave posted 134-6.

The Rockets' chase struggled to get going and when openers Bryony Smith and Elyse Villani fell to Adams and McGrath, respectively, in the space of four balls, the innings began to unravel.

Wickets continued to fall, no one outside the top three made double figures and despite Sciver's remarkable efforts, they came up just short.

Here's what else happened:

• Danni Wyatt fell for a duck for the second game running as the Brave slipped to 9-2 and then 32-3
• Bryony Smith and Georgia Davis both clamed two wickets for the Rockets, with Katherine Brunt also taking 1-17 from her 20 balls
• Umpire Anna Harris received one of the biggest cheers of the match when she tumbled over trying to avoid a well-struck pull shot and was quick to take the applause of the crowd
• Brave's Georgia Adams took 2-15 to go with her 38 with the bat, and also took a catch in a fine all-round display

Image source, Getty Images

Trent Rockets' Nat Sciver on BBC Two: "I enjoyed myself. I am annoyed but in the position we were in, I have mixed feelings.

"I was happy I managed to get some out of the middle. There aren't many times as a batter that you just need a six. I don't ever want to see that final ball again.

"I needed someone from the other end to say 'just hit it for six'. I wasn't sure whether to go in the air or along the floor (for a four) and in the end that was a mixed shot. I didn't think for four balls but then I thought for that ball. I was clear for the four balls before but I wasn't for that. It was indecision in my mind.

"We've had an up-and-down tournament. We didn't really expect to be here but we've won games at the right time. We haven't been consistent, particularly with the bat. It has been similar to the first year really. It was hard to build up a score and play with freedom. That came together a little bit more in the last few games."

Image source, Getty Images

Southern Brave's Georgia Adams on BBC Two: "I recently watched the Ben Stokes documentary and was watching the T20 World Cup bit, and I thought to myself, surely not?

On her innings of 38 off 24 balls: "I think for me it was adjusting to a new role in the middle order. It's been good fun for me. Where I have possibly gone wrong in the past is going too hard too early, when you actually don't realise you've got more time than you think."On her contribution with the ball (2-15 off 15 balls): "It's the first time for everything. I never thought I'd be bowling at one stage. My limitations are my strengths now. It does take some pressure of my batting. It's a game now where you have to be multi-dimensional."

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Radio

Image source, Getty Images

That last set of five proved that yorker is the most difficult ball to execute, particularly when you're under pressure. McGrath had executed it perfectly in her previous set.

Anya Shrubsole was so smart taking two or three minutes before the final ball to chat to McGrath about the ball. She still didn't execute perfectly but she got away with it.

Image source, Getty Images

Southern Brave's Tahlia McGrath on BBC Two: "My heart rate is still about 600! Anya [Shrubsole, Brave's captain] said I probably only needed to nail two of those balls but I stuffed up three of them.

"I spent about five minutes working out which ball to bowl at the end. I would have liked it a touch fuller but there is very minimal margin of error with the yorker. I'm not really a death bowler but I am enjoying the challenge.

"Anya asked what is my best ball and i said 'yorker' but i'd been hit for three sixes in a row! It was about deciding whether to stick with it or change it up. Anya was super calm. There were a few times when I went to her to slow the game down and hope that Sciver thought I might bowl something different.

"I've had a pretty average tournament so far so it was nice to contribute. It has been an awesome team to be a part of and hopefully it will be another good day tomorrow. It was a tough day against Northern Superchargers in the last game, but Lottie [Charlotte Edwards, Southern Brave coach] has been brilliant. She hasn't overcomplicated it."

Heather Knight
England captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

As for the Brave, I think they haven't had their best game and the fact they won it will give them so much confidence.

For Georgia Adams in the end to do that, Bouchier with a crucial innings and Tahlia McGrath who has been poor so far - they all chipped in and it'll give the Southern Brave so much to look forward to in the final.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Radio

Image source, Getty Images

It was extraordinary. You could feel the crowd - they were completely silent. They were with Brave.

We almost never see three sixes in a row in women's cricket and we were so close to something special.

It was really clever from Tahlia McGrath because she missed the yorker three times but then executed it.

It'll be Southern Brave taking on Oval Invincibles at Lord's in a repeat of last year's final. That game will be live on BBC Two at 14:30 tomorrow.

Can Invincibles take successive Hundred titles, or will Brave use the momentum from today's win to take the glory?

Lydia Greenway
Former England batter on BBC Radio

Credit to Southern Brave and Tahlia McGrath for holding their nerve. It's going to be much worse for the Trent Rockets camp because they actually came this close. That was heart-stopping stuff.

That was absolutely incredible from Nat Sciver. Each six just felt like absolute magic.

Trent Rockets had no chance but she hit three sixes in a row to bring them agonisingly close.

She finishes with 72 not out from 36 balls - what a special, special player she is.

Alison Mitchell
BBC Radio commentator

We nearly saw something astounding. What an innings from Sciver. But it's the team in green going to Lord's again for the final.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at the Ageas Bowl

Incredible. There are kids in green down to my left leaping up and down. What an incredible finish.

Oh, heartbreak for Nat Sciver.

Just a single from the last ball and Brave win by three runs and reach the final.

Nat Sciver rests her head against her bat in despair but wow. What an amazing, inspiring effort.

Last ball.

Four to win.

Sciver on strike...

Lydia Greenway
Former England batter on BBC Radio

I think McGrath has to go wider here. The opportunities for a six are much lesser.

Alison Mitchell
BBC Radio commentator

Nat Sciver is not giving up!

Rockets 131-7published at 1 ball left

1 ball left

Need 4 runs to win

I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING!

She has done it again! It's down to the last ball!

Four runs needed!

Rockets 125-7published at 2 balls left

2 balls left

Need 10 runs to win

Oh. Wow.

She can't... can she?

Rockets 119-7published at 3 balls left

3 balls left

Need 16 runs to win

Shot!!

Three more of those, Nat. Easy.

Image source, Getty Images

Nat Sciver knows she needs boundaries and she is trying desperately.

She swings hard but can only place it for two runs.