Final Report: Birmingham Phoenix Men v Southern Brace

Southern Braves became the inaugural Hundred champions with a 32-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix at a floodlit Lord’s.

Worcestershire left-hander Ross Whiteley hit four sixes in an unbeaten 19-ball 44, which came after 61 from Paul Stirling to help Brave post 168-5 despite two for eight from 20 balls from Adam Milne.

It proved too many for Moeen Ali’s Phoenix despite a swashbuckling 46 from player of the tournament Liam Livingstone who was crucially run out by Tim David’s direct hit.

Stirling and Milne dominated early on. The former, on the ground he graced for Middlesex for many years, struck two meaty blows over the boundary while finding Milne impossible to get away.

The New Zealand paceman accounted for Quinton de Kock from a mishit scoop in a set of five which didn’t concede a run.

James Vince also went cheaply, bowled by Imran Tahir, but Stirling twice deposited the leg-spinner into the crowd as he moved to 50 in 31 balls amid a half-century stand with Alex Davies (27).

Benny Howell ended the fun having Stirling caught behind, but David, celebrated signing an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier in the day with two big sixes.

Then came Whiteley’s late belligerence as  four of the biggest hits of the day meant 49 came from the last 20, taking the Braves beyond the reach of their rivals.

Braves made an explosive start with the ball, David’s stunning catch off George Garton dismissing David Bedingham for nought.

It was 15 balls before Ali found the boundary and though a six followed Craig Overton removed Will Smeed for two.

That brought the tournament’s leading six hitter Livingstone to the crease and he lived up to billing, striking Garton into the crowd off successive balls.

Ali was given a life on 15 when Overton dropped him on the boundary, but Livingstone forged on, hitting Jake Lintott for 14 in three balls including his 26^th six of the competition.

A 27^th off Chris Jordan teased the boundary fielder, but the England all-rounder perished on 46 when he turned for a second and David brilliantly threw down the stumps.

Garton’s stunning catch off Tymal Mills (one for 13) saw Miles Hammond fall cheaply and when Ali (36) also perished in the quest for needed boundaries the task was too much for the rest.