Joe Clarke, Colin Munro set tempo as Bears bested regardless of Sam Hain 97*
Nottinghamshire 214 for 3 (Clarke 89*, Munro 87) beat Birmingham 203 for 9 (Hain 97*, Afridi 3-39) by 11 runs
Notts Outlaws heaved their staccato Vitality Blast marketing campaign again into ahead movement with a spectacular 11-run win over Birmingham Bears at run-soaked Edgbaston.
Notts have been put in by the top-of-the-table Bears however piled up an imposing 214 for 3. When two batters in the identical innings attain half-centuries with their fifth six, issues haven’t gone properly for the opposition – so it was with Joe Clarke, 89 not out off 53 balls, and Colin Munro (87 off 43) as they pummelled the bowlers in a partnership of 122 from 68 balls.
The outstanding Sam Hain then took his Blast run-tally this season to 303 with an excellent unbeaten 97 off 52, however the Bears fell simply brief on 203 for 9.
Notts will hope their third win in six video games would be the begin of a constant run in the direction of the quarter-finals. The Bears in the meantime, have faltered after a flying begin. It has not been the homecoming Birmingham had in thoughts for Moeen Ali. They gained 4 out of 4 earlier than his return, since after they have misplaced two out of two – proof, maybe, for the case of ‘by no means change a successful workforce’.
After selecting to bowl, the Bears quickly eliminated Alex Hales, bowled by Henry Brookes with the ninth ball, however the brisk breakthrough merely opened the door to the onslaught. After a watchful begin (Dan Mousley’s first two overs price simply 5 runs), Munro launched an offensive which silenced the massive house crowd.
He bashed Glenn Maxwell straight out of the assault with two sixes and two extra sailed into the stands from what proved to be Danny Briggs’ solely over. Maxwell, Briggs and Ed Barnard collectively bowled three overs for 49.
It was thrilling hitting from Munro who was within reach of his sixth T20 century when he lifted Moeen to long-off in pursuit of his tenth six. That was the sign for Clarke, hitherto content material to be the quiet associate, to assault. The former Rapids batter smote a Brookes full toss into the gang to boost the Outlaws’ 200 and the innings closed on 214 with 13 fours and 16 sixes.
Under intense scoreboard stress, the Bears needed to go exhausting from the off they usually misplaced captain and vice-captain within the fourth over. Moeen and Alex Davies flailed off-side catches off Shaheen Afridi after which Maxwell skied a top-edged slog at Jake Ball.
From a parlous 40 for 3, Hain and Mousley added 52 in six overs earlier than the latter fell to a superb catch by Matt Montgomery, racing in and diving ahead from deep level. That was from Calvin Harrison’s third ball. When the spinner’s twelfth supply bowled Chris Benjamin, the Bears’ hopes lay squarely with Hain. He batted magnificently however that scoreboard stress – 59 wanted from the final 4 overs – was too nice.