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Final Men's Hundred, Lord's Southern Brave 168-5 (100% balls): Stirling 61 (36) and Whiteley 44* (19). Phoenix 136-5 (100% balls) Livingstone 46 (19). Brave win by 32 runs Scorecard
Southern Brave won the men's Hundred championship after defeating Birmingham Phoenix 32 runs in an exciting Lord's final.
Phoenix's Liam Livingstone, who was chasing 169, thrashed 46 balls from 19 balls. This animated a loud Lord's crowd with an effortless flow and boundaries before the game went in dramatic and unexpected ways.
Tim David was only added to the Brave's team earlier this week. Livingstone got a 60m hit from deep, which the in-form Livingstone missed horribly.
Birmingham needed 99 more balls from 55. Brave's outstanding bowling performance closed the game out expertly to give Brave a winning margin that was far greater than what appeared possible at the beginning.
Teacher-turned-Hundred star Jake Lintott had Moeen Ali caught for 36 from 30 balls.
Paul Stirling, an international from Ireland, had earlier scored 61 runs from 36 balls for Brave. Ross Whiteley's critical 44 not out from 19 balls elevated them to 168-5.
The Oval Invincibles, who won the women's final earlier that day, joined the Brave to present their trophy at the close of an extraordinary day at cricket's historic venue.
The moment that changed the final
Although 33 runs seems like a huge winning margin, Livingstone flew high and the crowd was on its feet as the sixes were thrown at him at will. Birmingham won the chase.
The game was turned by a moment of brilliance from the Brave's most unlikely hero.
David, a Singaporean all-rounder, made his international debut in Friday's eliminator. He was inserted as a late replacement to Colin de Grandhomme (New Zealand), who returned before the final.
After Livingstone's diving attempt, the big 25-year old swooped on a ball, and turned to arrow a throw into the stumps.
His Brave team-mates ran to celebrate with him. Livingstone seemed distraught, covering his face with his glove.
"Southern Brave were champions as soon as he [Livingstone] got back," stated Michael Vaughan, former England captain on BBC Two.
Hundred Ends of 'fantastic spectacles'
The weather forecast for the day suggested that the finale would be impossible.
Although the match didn't come down to the last ball, it was still a fun encounter with 22 sixes and some impressive fast bowling.
Near-capacity crowd of 24,556 was a encouraging number of young children who were enthusiastic for most of the time.
Although The Hundred may not be for everyone, the moment when the men's and ladies' winners held their trophies side-by-side at cricket's most iconic ground was memorable.
Equal prize money is awarded to the men's and women winners of the tournament
Carlos Brathwaite, a captain of Manchester Originals and BBC pundit, said that it was "a fitting occasion for he final with less restrictions and families out."
"It was a privilege to be a part of a spectacular spectacle and the game played on the field did it justice."
"A true team effort"
Brave emerged as worthy champions with seven consecutive wins, after two defeats in the first two games.
Tymal Mills again performed admirably in the final. He took 1-13 of 20 balls to make his case for England recall. Their fast bowling team, which included Mills, George Garton and Chris Jordan, has been top-notch throughout.
Lintott, who had to halt his teaching career in January after being awarded a county contract, was a standout performer thanks to his spin.
They won the title without Jofra Archer, an injured Jofra, and internationals David Warner (who pulled out due to the Covid-19 pandemic).
Captain James Vince said, "It's been an amazing team effort and different people turned up at different occasions."
"It was Ross Whiteley and Paul Stirling tonight that made the difference. They got us runs on the board."
