Southern Brave sauntered into The Hundred final after an emphatic bowling display blew away Trent Rockets in a seven-wicket victory, writes Alex Smith.

George Garton set the tone with three wickets in the Powerplay before Tymal Mills produced the fourth most economical spell in the tournament with three for eight.

Craig Overton claimed two for 25 and Chris Jordan two for 15 as Rockets were rolled over for 96 in front of 21,458 at the Kia Oval – their worst total of the competition.

Paul Sterling and James Vince – 31 off 19 and 41 not out off 26 respectively – made light work of the chase to complete the one-sided triumph with 32 balls to spare.

Brave will face table-topping Birmingham Phoenix at Lord’s today, and will hope for a south coast double - with their women taking on Oval Invincibles.

Garton said: “I think as a bowling unit we bowled really well. It is always hard to leave someone as Danny Briggs out but the tactics to bring in Craig Overton on a wicket that looked fresh worked. Then to take as many wickets as we did in the Powerplay was really crucial.

“They are a little top-heavy so to get early wickets was crucial.

“As a team across men and women there has been a good integration and a togetherness. There is always a lot of chat between the two teams. We are a tight-knit group. The girls have absolutely smashed it and it is great we are in the final as well.

“The lads will celebrate a little bit and have lots of chats."

Brave’s fast bowlers were relentless from the off.

Garton, having asked the Rockets to bat, found Dawid Malan’s inside edge and then Alex Hales’ outside edge with a slower ball.

Overton bowled a swinging Steven Mullaney in the next five before Garton returned again from the Pavilion End to find D’Arcy Short spooning to midwicket – the fast bowler returning a personal Hundred best of three for 18.

After a mini-31-run revival, Lewis Gregory thrashed Mills to cover and Samit Patel was caught by Jake Lintott – who flung himself full stretch to his left.

Tom Moores drilled back-to-back sixes but picked out long-on, Rashid Khan was deceived by a slower ball to give point an over the head catch and Matthew Carter and Marchant de Lange were caught behind. The last five wickets of the doomed innings fell for just 14 runs.

In reply, there were little nerves. Paul Sterling dinked a cute sweep to the boundary before ending the first five with a flat pulled six into the JM Finn Stand.

Quinton de Kock went after de Lange – who took five wickets in the group stage meeting – initially clipping through midwicket before giving Sam Cook a long hang-time at deep fine leg.

The blistering start recommenced when Vince crashed Rashid – who painted the colours of the pre-Taliban Afghan flag on his face – for two fours and a six, and Sterling pinged Cook back over his head to reach 50 by the end of the Powerplay.

With 28 still needed, Sterling was caught, at the second attempt, and soon after Alex Davies edged behind but Vince and Ross Whiteley knocked off the remaining runs with few cares.