Southern Brave won the 2021 Hundred
Both teams fought hard in front of an excited crowd, creating an electric atmosphere. In the end, Southern Brave came out on top and proudly lifted the maiden Hundred title. For Birmingham Phoenix, it was a tough loss in their first final, but the spirit of the contest made it a memorable occasion for cricket fans everywhere.
The first Finals of the Men’s Hundred Competition, held on August 21, 2021, at Lord’s, London, showcased an exciting battle between Southern Brave and Birmingham Phoenix. Southern Brave set a challenging 168/5 in their 100 balls, while Birmingham Phoenix fell short at 136/5, losing by 32 runs.
Southern Brave, sent in to bat after Birmingham Phoenix won the toss, posted a strong 168/5 in their 100 balls. Their innings was a mix of steady starts, explosive middle overs, and a fiery finish, driven by standout performances from Paul Stirling and Ross Whiteley. The innings began with Quinton de Kock and Paul Stirling facing the new ball. De Kock, known for his attacking style, started with a bang, smashing a six off Adam Milne’s bowling.
However, his stay was brief, as he managed only 7 runs off 7 balls before edging a delivery to Dillon Pennington at slip in the 12th ball. This early wicket gave Phoenix a boost, but Stirling was unfazed. He took on the bowlers with confidence, mixing careful defense with bold strokes. James Vince, the Brave captain, joined him but struggled to find his groove. Vince scored just 4 runs off 8 balls, looking uncomfortable against Imran Tahir’s spin before being bowled in the 32nd ball.
At this point, Brave were 35/2, and Phoenix’s bowlers were keeping things tight. Stirling, however, was in a different mood. He played with flair, targeting the short boundaries at Lord’s. His aggressive approach paid off as he reached his fifty off 31 balls, hitting 2 fours and 5 sixes. Alongside Alex Davies, who came in at number four, Stirling built a vital 50-run partnership for the third wicket in just 28 balls. This stand pushed Brave past 50 runs by the 44th ball, giving them a solid platform.
Stirling’s ability to pick gaps and clear the ropes frustrated Phoenix’s bowlers, especially Benny Howell and Dillon Pennington, who struggled to contain him. His entertaining knock ended at 61 off 36 balls when he was caught by wicketkeeper Chris Benjamin off Howell’s bowling in the 61st ball. Brave were now 85/3, and the stage was set for a middle-order push.
Tim David, the next man in, wasted no time. He smashed 15 runs off just 6 balls, including two massive sixes off Liam Livingstone’s bowling. His quickfire cameo gave Brave a surge, but he fell in the 70th ball, caught by David Bedingham off Livingstone, with the score at 103/4. This brought Ross Whiteley to the crease, and he turned the game on its head with a stunning unbeaten 44 off 19 balls. Whiteley’s knock was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 4 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 231.57. He took a particular liking to Pat Brown and Dillon Pennington, who leaked runs in the death overs. Whiteley’s onslaught ensured Brave accelerated rapidly, crossing 150 runs by the 94th ball.
Alex Davies played a crucial supporting role, scoring 27 off 20 balls with a four and a six. He kept the scoreboard moving, allowing Whiteley to play freely. Davies fell in the 91st ball, caught by Imran Tahir off Adam Milne’s bowling, but his contribution helped maintain the momentum. Chris Jordan, unbeaten on 5 off 4 balls, joined Whiteley for the final few deliveries, adding valuable runs to close the innings. The extras, including 5 leg byes, also chipped in, and Brave finished at 168/5, thanks to Whiteley’s late fireworks.
The Phoenix’s bowlers had a mixed day. Adam Milne was the pick, bowling 20 balls for just 8 runs and picking up two wickets, including de Kock’s early dismissal. Imran Tahir bowled tightly, taking 1 wicket for 33 runs in 20 balls, while Benny Howell also claimed a wicket but conceded 34 runs. Liam Livingstone chipped in with David’s wicket, but his 10 balls cost 18 runs. Pat Brown and Dillon Pennington were the most expensive, giving away 36 and 29 runs, respectively, as Whiteley targeted them in the final overs. Moeen Ali bowled a tidy 5-ball set for just 5 runs, but it wasn’t enough to stop Brave’s surge. The powerplay yielded 25 runs for 1 wicket, setting a decent foundation, but it was the middle and death overs, powered by Stirling and Whiteley, that propelled Brave to a formidable total.
Chasing 169, Birmingham Phoenix needed a strong start but stumbled early, finishing at 136/5 in their 100 balls, 32 runs short of Southern Brave’s total. Despite a fiery cameo from Liam Livingstone, early wickets and a lack of partnerships derailed their chase. Phoenix’s innings got off to a disastrous start. David Bedingham, opening alongside Will Smeed, was out for a duck off just 2 balls, caught by Tim David off George Garton’s bowling. This early blow in the 2nd ball put Phoenix under pressure. Smeed, looking to stabilize, struggled to get going, scoring just 2 runs off 6 balls before being caught by Alex Davies off Craig Overton in the 19th ball.
At 14/2, Phoenix were in trouble, and the power play yielded only 28 runs for the loss of two wickets, far from the aggressive start needed to chase 169. Moeen Ali, the Phoenix captain, and Liam Livingstone came together to rebuild. They put on a 56-run partnership for the third wicket in just 23 balls, giving Phoenix a glimmer of hope. Livingstone was the star, smashing 46 runs off 19 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 242.10. His aggressive intent was clear as he took on Chris Jordan and Jake Lintott, powering Phoenix to 50 runs by the 39th ball.
Livingstone’s ability to clear the boundary kept the required rate in check, but his run-out in the 45th ball, due to a mix-up with Moeen, was a massive setback. With the score at 70/3, Phoenix lost its biggest hope. Moeen Ali fought on, scoring 36 off 30 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes. He tried to anchor the innings but couldn’t match Livingstone’s aggression. Moeen fell on the 66th ball, caught by Craig Overton off Jake Lintott’s bowling, leaving Phoenix at 97/5. Miles Hammond, who came in at number five, managed just 3 runs off 4 balls before being caught by George Garton off Tymal Mills in the 54th ball.
This further dented Phoenix’s chances, as they struggled to keep up with the climbing run rate. Chris Benjamin, unbeaten on 23 off 25 balls, and Benny Howell, unbeaten on 20 off 14 balls, put up a fight with an unbroken 39-run stand for the sixth wicket. However, their cautious approach, with strike rates of 92.00 and 142.85, wasn’t enough to challenge the target. Benjamin hit a four and a six, while Howell struck 3 fours, but the required rate had ballooned, and they couldn’t accelerate enough in the final overs. Southern Brave’s bowlers were disciplined and effective.
Tymal Mills was outstanding, conceding just 13 runs in 20 balls while taking Hammond’s wicket. George Garton struck early, removing Bedingham, while Craig Overton accounted for Smeed. Jake Lintott’s wicket of Moeen was a game-changer, and though Chris Jordan went wicketless, he leaked 38 runs in 20 balls, largely due to Livingstone’s assault and the extras (2 leg byes, 4 wides) added a few runs, but Phoenix’s batting couldn’t recover from the early losses and Livingstone’s departure. Phoenix reached 100 runs by the 72nd ball, but the required rate was too steep. The middle order failed to maintain the momentum, and the late partnership between Benjamin and Howell came too late to make a difference. Southern Brave’s tight bowling, backed by sharp fielding, ensured Phoenix fell well short, securing a convincing 32-run victory.