Manchester Super Giants' Paul Walter was the unlikely star as they beat Sunrisers Leeds by 20 runs in The Hundred Eliminator, setting up a mouth-watering showdown with Trent Rockets in the final at Lord's on Sunday.
Walter's 80 off just 46 balls set the tone for Super Giants' imposing total of 186-4 at The Oval, before England seamer Josh Tongue led the bowling unit with an impressive 4-26 in Sunrisers' chase.
Sunrisers were put in to bat, but Walter remained unflustered when opening partner Tim Seifert was dismissed from the second ball of the game, ensuring that Sunrisers' momentum was short-lived as he and Jos Buttler added 57 for the second wicket.
Buttler made 33 from 20 before Walter combined with Heinrich Klaasen, and the pair added 114 off just 52 balls, with Walter whacking eight sixes and Klaasen four.
Sunrisers have boasted one of the most powerful top orders in the tournament, but struggled under the pressure of a mammoth run chase and they finished 166-7.
The tournament's leading run-scorer Mitch Marsh fell for 10 before captain Zak Crawley wasted a review when he was plumb lbw for six, which later proved costly as Harry Brook was given out lbw on 49 playing a reverse scoop – but replays showed the ball had pitched outside off stump.
Tongue removed both Marsh and Crawley before he combined with Sonny Baker to tear through the middle order, the latter finishing with 2-39, while Sunrisers opener Ryan Rickelton was left stranded on 54 not out.
Walter, 32, was picked up for just £31,000 in the auction earlier this year, a drop in the ocean compared to the £390,000 paid for London Spirit's James Coles.
He also did not even feature in Super Giants' first five games of the campaign before he came in at the top of the order after South Africa's Aiden Markram returned home for personal reasons, and has now finished with 225 in four games, averaging 76 and striking at 181.45.
Super Giants will face Trent Rockets in the final at Lord's on Sunday, with the winner going on to compete for The Hundred title.
The final showdown between Super Giants and Trent Rockets is set to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to secure the coveted title.
Source: BBC Sports