Southern Brave secured their spot in The Hundred final after an extraordinary Eliminator against Birmingham Phoenix, which was decided by the tournament's first-ever Super Five.
Liam Livingstone had nearly guided Phoenix to victory with a powerful half-century, but his dismissal with just three runs needed changed the course of the game.
Brave's spinner Akeal Hosein kept his composure, conceding only two runs in his last three deliveries, resulting in a tie.
In the Super Five, Jofra Archer struck immediately by having Livingstone caught off the first ball, limiting Phoenix to just seven runs from the extra five balls.
Chris Jordan then sealed the win for Brave with a boundary, leaving one ball to spare, setting up a final clash against the defending champions, Oval Invincibles, at Lord's on Sunday evening.
Livingstone had put Phoenix on the verge of victory by hitting a Hosein no-ball for six, reducing the requirement to just three runs from four balls. However, he failed to connect with the subsequent free hit and was dismissed on the next delivery, giving Brave a lifeline that they capitalized on, advancing to their first final since winning the inaugural tournament in 2021.
James Vince was the top scorer for Brave, reaching 400 runs in this year's tournament with a crucial 43, helping his team post 126-6 on a bowler-friendly pitch. Despite Phoenix's impressive bowling effort, led by Adam Milne's 3-18, it was the Brave bowlers who ultimately swung the momentum in their favor, putting Phoenix under pressure as they reached 45-3 at the halfway point of their chase.
The match took a pivotal turn when Livingstone was dropped on seven by Leus du Plooy, sparking a resurgence from the England all-rounder. He smashed four sixes in what seemed to be a match-winning innings but ultimately fell short, allowing Brave to hold their nerve and advance to the final, where they will vie for their second Hundred men's title.
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