Report: Bears v Steelbacks, Second XI T20

Alex Davies and Sam Hain powered the batting and Hassan Ali took four wickets in five balls as the Bears secured a 78-run victory over the Steelbacks at the Edgbaston Community Sports Ground to make it two wins from two in the Second XI T20 competition. 

In a statement performance, the batting duo put on a destructive partnership of 109 from just 46 balls as the Bears posted an imposing 232/4.

With the ball, Pakistan international Ali showed his pinpoint accuracy, taking five wickets (5/14) with the final four all bowled.

Having beaten Gloucestershire by 72 runs 24 hours prior, Mark Robinson opted for another strong side to aid their preparations for Saturday’s Blast Off.

Whilst most of County Cricket prepare for another LV= Insurance County Championship fixture, Bears, Derbyshire Falcons, Lancashire Lightning and Yorkshire Vikings will be part of the first ever Vitality Blast Off, which will launch next summer’s T20 competition, seeing four teams compete in two matches as part of an action-packed day of T20 cricket.

Therefore it should be no surprise to see the Bears top order flying. Davies’ 95 (44 balls, 9×4, 2×6) was the standout, although Hain’s 72 (32 balls, 11×4, 2×6) had its fair share of fireworks. Opener Yates, who scored 37 yesterday, also look fluent, adding 39 in a 88-run partnership with Davies.

With the ball, Ali got the key breakthrough, removing Chris Lynn for 0 off 8 balls in the third over, and whilst England seamer David Willey (79) offered solid resistance the visitors were never close enough to turn the match into a nail-biter.