Rob Yates, Henry Brookes prolong Bears’ profitable run
Birmingham 141 (Yates 53, Turner 3-20) beat Durham 133 for 9 (Bushnell 40*, Brookes 3-15) by eight runs
Birmingham Bears accomplished their buoyant Vitality Blast group marketing campaign with a membership document seventh successive victory, by eight runs over Durham at Edgbaston.
Already certain of ending prime, the Bears rounded off their group video games with an eleventh win out of 14 regardless of an untidy batting show which noticed them bowled out for 141 in 19.4 overs. Only Rob Yates, with 53 off 42 balls, lasted lengthy in opposition to correct bowling led by Australian pair Ashton Turner (3 for 20) and Nathan Sowter (2 for 23).
Durham confronted a reasonable goal nevertheless it was properly past them as they mustered simply 133 for 9, Henry Brookes taking 3 for 15. They end one from backside within the group and exit the match after a staccato marketing campaign which included two ties and a no-result.
The Bears, in the meantime, stay on a roll as they put together for Thursday night’s residence quarter-final. Another satisfying day for them was clouded solely by a worrying damage to standout performer Dan Mousley, who left the sector after hurting a hand making an attempt to take a return catch from Turner.
After the Bears selected to bat, their prime order misfired aside from Yates, who has scored 286 runs in his final 5 Blast knocks.
Alex Davies blasted 19 from eight balls however then reduce Turner to George Drissell at level. Drissell loved an efficient hour, including one other good catch in the identical place to take away the fit-again Sam Hain and bowling 4 overs of tidy offspin for simply 23.
The Bears big-hitters have powered their facet into the final eight however this wasn’t their day as Chris Benjamin, Glenn Maxwell, Mousley and Jake Bethell every lasted fewer than ten balls. Yates accomplished a 38-ball fifty however then edged Turner behind and Dominic Drakes launched his Bears profession with a golden duck when he slogged Sowter to long-on.
Brookes landed a pair within the crowd however when Ben Raine castled Jake Lintott, it was 9 down and the spectators had the weird T20 sight of a No. 11 blocking out the 18th over to maintain the innings alive. It concluded in fittingly messy style when Olly Hannon-Halby launched into a single, Brookes did not and the previous was run out by Alex Lees’ throw.
Durham required a comparatively modest run fee however appeared in a giant hurry which price them early wickets. Graham Clark skied Drakes to mid-off, Lees was bowled backing away to chop Mousley, Ollie Robinson performed on to Brookes and Michael Jones swept Mousley to quick nice leg. The Bears spinner delivered solely two extra balls earlier than struggling his damage.
Brookes got here on to finish the over, instantly eliminated Turner lbw and adopted up with the wicket of Brydon Carse, caught by Yates at long-on. Liam Trevaskis hoiked Lintott to deep midwicket earlier than the autumn of Raine just about summed up the Blast campaigns of those two groups. Sub fielder Ethan Brookes brilliantly retrieved a success inches contained in the rope and the batters, as a substitute of celebrating 4 runs, discovered themselves collectively in the course of the pitch when Brookes’ throw arrived.
Jonathan Bushnell biffed a T20-best 40 off 34 balls, nevertheless it was too little too late to rescue his crew.