Mahela Jayawardene’s Southern Brave crowned first men’s Hundred champs

Southern Brave coached by former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was crowned the first men’s Hundred champions after beating Birmingham Phoenix by 32 runs in an action-packed Lord’s final on Saturday.

Chasing 169, Phoenix’s Liam Livingstone thrashed 46 from 19 balls, animating a raucous Lord’s crowd with an effortless flow of boundaries, before the game swung in dramatic and unlikely fashion.

Tim David, only brought into the Brave’s squad earlier this week, ran out Livingstone with a 60 m direct hit from the deep – the in-form Livingstone agonisingly inches short.

Birmingham still needed another 99 from 55 balls and Brave’s impressive bowling attack closed out the game expertly to make the winning margin far greater than looked likely at one stage.

Teacher-turned-Hundred star Jake Lintott had Moeen Ali caught for 36 from 30 balls.

Ireland international Paul Stirling earlier hit 61 from 36 balls for the Brave before Ross Whiteley’s crucial 44 not out from 19 balls lifted them to 168-5.

The Oval Invincibles, winners of the women’s final earlier in the day, joined the Brave with their trophy at the end of a special day at cricket’s historic home. (BBC)