Report: Birmingham Bears 2nd XI v Lancashire Lightning 2nd XI, SE T20 2017
Match 1
Toss won by Birmingham Bears 2nd XI who chose to field
Lancashire Lightning 2nd XI 161-8 (20.0 overs) Birmingham Bears 2nd XI 157 (19.5overs)
Lancashire Lightning 2nd XI (2 points) won by 4 runs
The Bears chose to field at Coventry & North Warwickshire against Lightning, who scored quickly despite losing an early wicket when Dudley 18, was dismissed by Brookes, after hitting a four and two sixes from the six balls.
Alex Davies 44 and Bohannon 24 scored at better than a run a ball and with Guest, Kerrigan and Hurt chipping in with useful late order runs. Lightning’s innings closed on 161-8 from their 20 overs.
Thomason and Rankin each took two wickets with Thornton, Brookes and Poysden taking one each.
Sam Hain made a half-century in the Bears’ response, after William Porterfield 10 had gone early. Ed Pollock made 27 and the middle-order of Mellor, Thomason, Lamb and Javid fell away cheaply before a late attack from Thornton, 22 from eight balls with two sixes and two fours, gave the Bears an outside chance of overcoming their target.
With Proctor bowling the final over and eight required for victory, the Bears lost Poysden to the third ball and Rankin to the penultimate delivery of the innings with five still needed.
Match 2
Toss won by Lancashire Lightning 2nd XI who chose to bat
Lancashire Lightning 2nd XI 154-8 (20.0 overs) Birmingham Bears 2nd XI 157-4 (19.0 overs)
Birmingham Bears 2nd XI (2 points) won by 6 wickets
In the second match, the Bears included a number of their regular first-team players as Lancashire lost both openers for ducks after choosing to bat first.
Davies 26 and Hammed 16 steadied their innings, while late runs from Proctor 28, Bohannon 19 and Lamb, 35* from 16 balls with three sixes, helped them reach a challenging 154-8 from their 20 overs.
The Bears batted strongly in reply, with Sam Hain 59 making a second half-century in the day and with Porterfield 23, Ambrose 33, and de Grandhomme unbeaten on 26, they overhauled the visitor’s target with an over to spare.
