Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has backed The Hundred tournament to come back “bigger and better” in the next edition.
“We are coming back bigger and better next year,” Pietersen said in a post-match show after the Final of both men’s and women’s final on Saturday.
The Southern Brave side lifted the inaugural trophy in the men’s tournament after beating Birmingham Phoenix in the final clash by 32 runs at Lord’s. Chasing 169 in 100 balls, Birmingham were restricted to 138/5.
Liam Livingstone top-scored for the side with 46 off 19 while captain Moeen Ali chipped in with 36 off 30. Earlier, Southern Brave rode on a half-century from Stirling and an unbeaten 19-ball 44 from Ross Whiteley to post 168/5 in the allotted 100 balls.
The Southern Brave captain James Vince lauded Stirling’s efforts with the bat after the match. Paul Stirling and Whiteley were exceptional. Bowlers put in a clinic in the second half there. Stirling getting himself off to a good start and then playing a match-winning innings was superb,” he said.
In the women’s competition, it was Oval Invincibles who defeated Southern Brave by 48 runs to clinch the title. The Oval side managed to score 121/6 and then the bowlers rattled the Southern Brave batting line up to bundle them out for 73.
Invincibles captain Dane van Niekerk expressed her delight at the win. “I have no words at the moment. If you told me that would happen at the end of the day, I would have taken it. Credit to Southern Brave, they have been incredible. We had to rock up today to beat a very good side,” she said.