Chris Jordan smashed an exhilarating 70 off 32 balls to give Southern Brave their first Hundred victory of 2023 in a two-run nail-biter over Welsh Fire.

England star Jordan dragged Brave from 76 for eight – with Pakistan star Haris Rauf taking three wickets – to 147 with seven ginormous sixes and a trio of fours for just his second T20 half-century.

Leg-spin sensation Rehan Ahmed, Craig Overton and last-set hero Tymal Mills all claimed two wickets as the 2021 winners bounced back from their opening game defeat to Trent Rockets.

Brave were stuck in and after 76 balls were 76 for eight and looking down the barrel of an embarrassing sub-three-figure total.

Fast bowler Rauf was the main architect of the slaughter with three for 27 – picking up Finn Allen caught behind off a bouncer, bowling George Garton and bouncing James Fuller out. All done for Rauf’s express pace.

Shaheen Shah Afridi returned to the Utilita Bowl for the first time since taking four in four balls in the Vitality Blast three years ago and had Devon Conway gloving behind.

James Vince, Tim David, Leus du Plooy and Rehan Ahmed also fell into the pile.

Jordan had eight off 14 balls when Ahmed was run out before exploding in a style which got the 12,403 fans at the Utilita Bowl rocking.

He thumped Rauf down the ground for his first six, fast forward to 22 off 19 balls and Roelof van der Merwe’s left arm spin bore the brunt of a hurricane of sixes.

Long off, mid-wicket and square leg were cleared before clipping David Payne off his legs for a stylish maximum as his fifty came up in 26 balls.

Two more sixes and 19 runs off the last five balls took the stand with Overton to 71 in 25 balls, with Jordan contributing 62 of them.

Tim David dropped a dolly to give Luke Wells a life with the first ball of the reply but Joe Clarke suffered his second golden duck in a row.

Wells slogged to long on and Stevie Eskinazi – who had scooped his first ball for an audacious six – was stumped after a 41-run stand between the pair as Ahmed’s leg spin caused problems.

Tom Abell drilled to cover, Glenn Phillips’ top edge picked out deep fine and Fuller’s parsimonious first 15 balls went for just 11 runs to put Brave in the box seat.

Willey hit two sixes off Fuller’s last five before Ben Green went six, four, caught at long on to make the equation 14 off seven balls.

Willey scored eight off the first four balls of the last set but needing three off the last he was caught at point as the ground bounced.

Southern Brave all-rounder Chris Jordan:

“I went in during a little bit of trouble so just tried to keep it nice and simple. I was looking to get to 110 or so or maybe 140 but I flicked a switch and it came off.

“When you are out in the middle and you get one out the middle of the bat you get a feel of the range. I hit that first six then got on a roll and it kept going.

“Everyone has their role in the team so you have to trust in that formula. If the team does need me to go up the order then I’d be more than happy – but I’m happy with my role.

“I didn’t have any doubts. I’ve played quite a few Hundred games now and you look at the runs vs balls but the minute you take one wicket you get a new batter in and it becomes quite difficult for them.

“Sometimes you might look at it and think you need 15 from eight balls and it is more often in the batting team’s favour but two dot balls and they try and overhit it and get out and the scenario becomes more favourable for the bowlers in this format."