Report: Bears v Worcestershire, Vitality County Women’s T20, Match One
Birmingham Bears completed victory in the first game against Worcestershire in a Midlands derby double header Sunday, winning by 29 runs after a great batting display and tight bowling.
An excellent partnership between Eve Jones and Marie Kelly of 130 saw Bears over the line, with Emily Churms also impressing in just her second game for the Bears, taking two wickets to restrict the visitors to 129.
Jones and Brookes walked to the crease on a glorious morning at Portland Road, however the first wicket fell in the third over as Brookes was bowled for one by Anderson.
Jones and Kelly then took control of the batting innings, playing fluently and rotating the strike well, bringing up their 100 partnership in the 17th over before the both of them surpassed the half-century mark.
Their partnership reached 130 before Jones was ran out by Hill at the keepers end for 62 in the 19th over after pushing for a second run.
Kelly continued her fluent batting, reaching 55 not out, guiding the Bears to 155/2 at the end of innings.
Worcestershire run chase in pursuit of 156 began and looked to be getting off to a good start as they reached 20 without loss after the first five overs.
Georgia Davis came onto bowl and made immediate impact, getting Macey caught on the boundary for 10 by Brookes.
Then Bears took wickets at crucial times, not allowing Worcestershire to get away from them, keeping pressure on and making runs hard to score.
After they reached 52/1 after 10 overs, Churms came onto bowl, bowling Home for 30, ending a 45-run partnership between her and Hill.
Churms then got her second wicket, with Hill being caught on the boundary for 24, with Worcestershire reaching 89/3.
Clare Boycott came in, with Bears needing 67 from five overs and despite good bowling from the Bears scored freely, but her innings of 40 was not enough to get the visitors victory as they finished on 129/4.
