Graham Clark hit the final ball for six to snatch a dramatic three-wicket victory for Northern Superchargers against Southern Brave in The Hundred.
Needing five for victory or four for a tie, Durham batter Clark heaved England international Tymal Mills over the boundary at mid-wicket.
In a see-sawing finale, Superchargers needed only 11 from the last 10 with five wickets left before Jofra Archer struck twice and conceded only one run from his final five balls.
Clark swept the second ball of the last set from Mills for four to leave five to get from three but when Mills followed with two dot balls the hosts still appeared favourites.
Mills opted for a slower ball again, however, and dropped to the ground when Clark clubbed it for six.
Clark, in contrast, roared in delight and finished 38 not out from 24 balls, having left the previous delivery believing it to be a wide outside off stump.
“That felt euphoric,” he told Sky sports.
“I thought I messed it up when I left the ball before, but it’s a good feeling to get over the line.”
Clark came in at number six when Superchargers and England white-ball captain Harry Brook was caught off Mills for 24. Dan Lawrence holed out for 10, while opener Zak Crawley was caught for 29.
Superchargers were helped by an injury to Chris Jordan, who left the field with an apparent groin injury with 49 needed from 35 balls and Mitchell Santner capitalised by hitting Michael Bracewell’s spin for a six and a four.
Santner, who took 2-24 in Brave’s 139-5 – with fellow New Zealander and debutant Jacob Duffy also taking 3-26 – became Archer’s first victim and Tom Lawes followed for a duck, but Clark proved to be Superchargers’ match-winner.
The victory is their second from three games in this year’s Hundred and ends the Brave’s winning start.
