Warwickshire Bears return to Vitality Blast action on Friday 29 May, as they travel to New Road for the first highly anticipated derby meeting of 2026 against Worcestershire. Play gets under way at 5:30pm between the Bears and the Pears. Here are the details…
Team news
The Bears make one addition to the squad for the trip to New Road, with Zen Malik joining up with the team after making 80 from 33 balls for the Second XI on Wednesday.
Bears squad: Ed Barnard, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Nathan Gilchrist, Rob Yates, Taz Ali, Usman Tariq, Beau Webster, Zen Malik, Alex Davies, Sam Hain, Chris Woakes, Hamza Shaikh, Jordan Thompson, Vansh Jani, Kai Smith
Current form
It’s been a testing start to the Blast for the Bears, who have slipped to back-to-back defeats across their opening two games.
Having dismissed Gloucestershire for 121, the Bears were unable to chase it down in their first fixture, before they fell victim to an outstanding James Rew knock, as he struck 93 off 48 balls to see Somerset to a seven wicket win at Edgbaston on Sunday.
The Pears meanwhile have mixed one win with one loss over their first two games. Their win came last Friday, where they posted 188 for nine before restricting Leicestershire to 170 for four in response. Two days later, they were soundly beaten by Northamptonshire Steelbacks at New Road, losing by 100 runs after being dismissed for 91.
This game comes at a crucial time for the Bears as they target a first win of the campaign. An away trip to their local rivals could be just what they need.
Previous meetings
In recent years, the Bears have had the upper hand in the derby, winning three of the last four games between the sides, including both in 2025.
The first of the two wins last year came in a nerve-shredding one wicket win at Edgbaston, thanks largely to a four-wicket haul from Dan Mousley which had helped to reduce the Pears to 134 all out. Alex Davies got the bears off to a strong start with 42 off 24 balls, but it was Sam Hain with an unbeaten 38 off 30 balls that got the Bears over the line.
In the reverse fixture at New Road, Hain was at it again with the bat, top-scoring with 44 as the Bears set Worcester 177 to win. Three wickets apiece from Hannah Ali (three for 32) and Danny Briggs (three for 37) made sure of a 23-run Bears victory.
Players to watch
Sam Hain – Hain has been in good form in the Rothesay County Championship this season, and has carried that over into the Blast. He top scored in the Bears’ home defeat to Somerset last weekend, smashing 52 off 35 balls, and will have fond memories of playing at New Road, having hit 44 in this fixture last season.
Rob Yates – Yates also looked in fine touch last weekend, with the opener setting the tone at the top of the innings with 42 off 25, including 20 in one over. He’s also key in the field for the Bears.
Adam Finch (Worcestershire) – Right arm quick Finch has taken five wickets at an average of just 13.60 in the 2026 Vitality Blast from two starts. Three of those came in the teams’ opening day win against Leicestershire. Only five players have taken more scalps than him so far this season.