Invincibles defend crown after Mahmood's timely intervention

Lord's is a place of joy for the Oval Invincibles once again. Saqib Mahmood was the chief menace, taking three wickets and conceding just a single in the space of seven deliveries to set up a 17-run victory over Southern Brave, back-to-back titles secured for the men's side.

- Taha Hashim

The game was the Brave's under lights at HQ, close to 29,000 watching, chasing a tough ask of 148 but well-settled at 95 for three, 30 balls still left to play with. Leus du Plooy and Laurie Evans' partnership was growing as Mahmood returned to the attack, his captain, Sam Billings, needing something, anything. Please.

Du Plooy found four immediately but a shuffle to the leg-side for an off-side hit then proved costly.

Mahmood, an international-class quick whose recent years have been riddled with back stress fractures, found leg stump. Out came Kieron Pollard, a king of the shortest form but now reliant on muscle memory in the later stages of a storied career. The ball jagged and danced, three dots leaving Pollard shotless.

That was the end of Mahmood's set but Billings wanted more; the bowler continued for another five, pinning Pollard's pads for his second before forcing Evans to chip to Dawid Malan at cover and leave the Brave reeling at 100 for six. Twenty-two balls remained but Mahmood had won the game and the tournament, too, his final figures three for 17.