All-rounder Beau Webster remains optimistic that Warwickshire Bears can have a say in this year’s Vitality Blast, despite slipping to defeat at home to Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Last year’s semi-finalists, Northamptonshire, secured a six-wicket victory at Edgbaston Stadium after chasing down 208 runs with four balls remaining of their 20 overs, with Australian Beau Webster top scoring for the Bears with 97.
Opening batter Rob Yates was dismissed in the first over of the Warwickshire innings, before T20 Blast debutant, Zen Malik, hit three sixes in an entertaining 24 that came off ten balls to give the Bears’ innings momentum.
Webster then set about giving the Bears a score to bowl at and did so in impressive fashion, bringing up his 50 in 36 balls, before being dismissed off the final ball of the Warwickshire innings for 97 from 56 deliveries.
Captain Ed Barnard entertained with 40 off 25 balls to boost the total, but it was an unbeaten 59-ball 115 from Northants opener Chris Lynn that would be the telling contribution on the day, as the visitors made it four wins from four to start their campaign.
Webster was full of praise for Lynn, and despite defeat, says the Bears can still qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
“At the moment, it just feels like we’re always chasing that complete game,” he said.
“If we’re honest, we probably didn’t bowl to our best there, no doubt. He’s a fantastic player, Lynny. He always has been. We knew if he got in it was going to be hard.
“The score we got, 208, is good enough on any day, but it can be tough for the bowlers here. It’s a lovely wicket and with some short boundaries, it wasn’t to be today.
“The beauty is that we’ve got eight games left to play, and if we win all of them then we’re probably going to go pretty close to qualifying.”
Despite coming out on the wrong side of the result, Webster is enjoying his time with the Bears and was pleased with his own display.
“It felt good out there and it felt like the wicket was coming on nicely,” he added.
“Like I said though, it’s a lovely place to be here at Edgbaston, so I’m happy I took advantage of it. We probably just needed a few more in the end there.
“There’s some wonderful players, both with bat and ball in this competition. It’s a great competition, it’s good fun and it’s well supported.
“I do love coming over here, and I know all the other Aussies love coming over here whenever they can.”
The Bears return to Vitality Blast action on Friday 5 June against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.