Southern Brave defy Liam Livingstone pyrotechnics to win inaugural men’s Hundred

On Saturday night in front of a 24,556 fans, it was their batsmen and Stirling in particular who put the Brave on the front foot after they were asked to bat first.

Stirling got stuck into his work by rocking on to the back foot and pulling Dillon Pennington all the way but Milne was showing his prowess with crafty changes of pace, up at 94mph at one point but then dipping down to the low 80s.

His quicker ball hurried Quinton De Kock, the South African dangerman lapping to Pennington at short fine leg, with Milne's first 15 deliveries yielding just three singles as the Brave reached 25 for one from the 25-ball powerplay.

Brave captain James Vince was bowled after missing a slog sweep off Imran Tahir, who celebrated with a familiar running celebration, but Stirling's power-hitting ensured his side did not become too bogged down.

Benny Howell was twice taken the distance, as was Tahir, the second of which took Stirling to a 31-ball fifty. In attempting to throw the sink at a Howell knuckle ball, Stirling nicked off although new batsman David's 15 off six balls ensured no momentum was lost.

Moeen, back to captain the Phoenix on his return from England duty, conceded just five from his only set as the Brave reached 110 for four after 75 balls, after which Whiteley took centre stage with some brutal hitting.

He drove then pulled Livingstone for a couple of fours before Howell was launched back over his head for six. After Milne returned to snare Alex Davies for 27 off 20, Whiteley ensured the Brave finished with a flourish with a couple of slogged sixes either side of a fortuitous inside edge for four off Pennington.

The Phoenix made an inauspicious start to their chase as David Bedingham followed up his nought in the Royal London Cup final for Durham on Thursday with a two-ball duck, slicing George Garton to David, who superbly held a low chance.

Garton set the tone and was ably backed up Craig Overton, who accounted for Will Smeed, which brought Livingstone to the crease. The Cumbrian, whose 92 not out from 40 balls had sent the Phoenix directly into the final, deposited his third and fourth legal deliveries into the stands, spoiling Garton's figures and igniting the Phoenix charge.

Moeen was dropped on 15 in the deep after Overton lost his footing while, from the next ball, Jake Lintott put down a sharp return catch off Livingstone, who flayed the leg-spinner for four-four-six. Just as it seemed the tide was turning, Livingstone was run out David's direct hit from the deep.

Livingstone's unexpected downfall left Moeen, the poster boy of this competition, with much to do and while the England all-rounder took sixes off Lintott and Garton, the asking rate was beginning to escalate.

Moeen attempted to repeat the trick off Lintott only to pick out Overton at long on to depart for 36 off 30. With 72 required from the last 34, Birmingham's best hope went with Moeen as they finished well adrift on 136 for five.