A MAGNIFICENT innings from Quinton de Kock helped Southern Brave to victory over Northern Superchargers in a low-scoring, but absorbing Hundred clash at the Ageas Bowl.

The Brave’s five-wicket wicket win, their third success of the season, took them to second in the table and was secured with five balls to spare.

South African batsman De Kock finished unbeaten on 72 alongside Chris Jordan who was 10 not out and hit the winning boundary.

After restricting the Superchargers to an under-par 128 for six, on a sluggish surface in damp and cold conditions, the Brave looked to be cruising to victory at 101 for two.

However, spinners Adil Rashid and Adam Lyth grabbed four wickets to almost wrestle the initiative back towards the visitors before De Kock and Jordan guided their team home.

The Brave started well in the response to the visitors’ total as Ireland international Paul Stirling thumped 20 from 12 deliveries before being caught and bowled by Brydon Carse.

Brave skipper James Vince then departed for eight after being bowled by a magnificent Rashid googly but Alex Davies and De Kock put on 48 for the third wicket to put their side in sight of victory.

But the admirable Rashid took his second wicket when Davies was stumped by John Simpson for 15 before Lyth struck twice in quick succession with his off-spin to bowl Ross Whiteley and New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme to check the home side’s progress.

The Superchargers won the toss and elected to bat but got off to the worst possible start when former England opener Lyth was bowled by the first ball of the match by George Garton.

Garton produced a cracking in-swinging yorker that bowled the Yorkshireman around his pads much to the delight of the home crowd.

Big-hitting Australian Chris Lynn crashed four boundaries for his 26 before falling to Jordan’s first ball of the match – with Davies taking a superb catch after coming in off the boundary to dive full-length and hang on to the ball.

Danny Briggs then took the crucial wicket of talismanic Superchargers skipper David Willey, who had looked in good touch for his 24 off 18 deliveries, as the visitors slipped to 63 for three after 48 balls.

The visitors quickly slumped to 76 for five after 64 balls as in-form Harry Brook and Simpson perished cheaply.

Brook fell for 14 when he smashed Jake Linton down the throat of Jordan who took a simple catch, with Simpson playing an awful reverse sweep shot from a poor delivery by Briggs to fall for just three.

The Brave bowlers continued to keep the visitors in check with Tymal Mills in particular impressing, conceding just one boundary from his 20 balls to finish with figures of one for 17 and taking the wicket of Ben Raine for 18.

Dane Vilas was unbeaten with 35 for the Superchargers, who finished their innings on 128 for six – a total always looked under-par.