Birmingham Bears end Northamptonshire Steelbacks’ 100% home record
Birmingham Bears climbed to the second spot in the points table after a successful maniac run chase helped them defeat Northamptonshire’s total of 211 with seven balls to spare
Adam Hose remained unbeaten at 63 as he sealed the winOpting to bat first, Northamptonshire got off to a good start as Ben Curran and Chris Lynn partnered for 72 runs in an opening stand. Carlos Brathwaite dismissed Ben Curran (26); however, Chris Lynn continued to stitch another 56-run partnership with Saif Zaib. As the former scored 59 off 43, Saif Zaib scored 32-ball 74, consisting of 10 boundaries and three sixes, taking his strike rate to 231.25. These anchoring knocks were followed by cameos from the middle and lower order as the team eased out their total and posted a mammoth target of 212 for the visitors.
With the 100% record of hosts in mind and such a massive total to chase, Birmingham Bears got a strong start as Paul Stirling started smashing with a strike rate of 242.85. But Ben Sanderson got the breakthrough as he dismissed both the openers for 44 in the 4th over. Sam Hain added a quick 18 off 11. Whereas Adam Hose first scored 69 in partnership with Alex Davies as Davies escalated the chase game scoring 42 off 18 before getting bowled out by Freddie Heldreich. Adam Hose remained unbeaten at 63 as he sealed the win, getting into a 100-run partnership with Chris Benjamin (58 not out). Thus, the visitors completed the chase of a massive total in 18.5 overs with six wickets remaining.
Northamptonshire Steelback and Birmingham Bears will lock horns with Yorkshire Vikings and Worcestershire Rapids on 24th June 2022