The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from the men's Hundred clash between Manchester Originals and Southern Brave
You'll see few better examples of leadership than a player of the match display in a knockout match to earn your side a shot of glory.
Granted, this isn't the most important competition Jos Buttler will grace during the second half of this calendar year, but he certainly makes it feel like that with a captain's knock in a record-breaking chase.
From allowing Phil Salt to dominate the opening partnership of 83, to taking control during those middle sets with a couple of devastating blows, it was the perfect evening for the England white-ball captain.
Such was the punishment he inflicted on Brave, he provoked several ball changes which is virtually the only thing that held up the Manchester Originals' progress.
Buttler is now the lead run-scorer in the competition and barring something remarkable from Will Jacks or Salt will remain so regardless of what happens in the final.
Finn Allen takes aim (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
During the first half of the Southern Brave innings, there was a carnival-type atmosphere at the Kia Oval.
After a frustrating, wet afternoon during which spectators had been treated to 75 balls of the women's Eliminator, delayed starts, showers and disappointment, they were just happy to be watching some cricket.
Mexican waves started up early into the match, and they were still continuing as Finn Allen tore into Calvin Harrison.
However, they were soon stopped in their tracks when Allen muscled a six over deep midwicket and out of the ground, down Clayton Street.
A delivery that travelled fully 92 meters was by some considerable distance the shot of the match and caused a stunned silence throughout the crowd.
Manchester Originals are aiming to bounce back from the disappointment of 2022 (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
The Originals return to Lord's nearly 12 months on from defeat to Trent Rockets in last year's final.
The question on everyone's mind will be whether anything has changed or if the Invincibles, the outstanding team of the men's competition, will have too much as they did in the group.
It was only three-and-a-half weeks ago that Originals were beaten by 94 runs at the Kia Oval, the heaviest defeat in terms of runs suffered by any team in the men's competition.
But the Londoners will arrive at Lord's a changed side from that evening. Sunil Narine and Spencer Johnson are missing from the bowling attack and Heinrich Klaasen has been gutted from the batting.
Paul Stirling, a winner of this competition with Southern Brave when he was player of the match in the final against Birmingham Phoenix, has signed up for the final but they are certainly weaker than the first meeting between the sides.
Meanwhile, the Originals are possibly stronger having added Zaman Khan to their bolster the seam attack.
But will that be enough to ensure they make amends for last season's disappointment?
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