Bears vs Rapids
In 2015 derby the Bears made 144 for five, a modest total, but one they defended comfortably as the Rapids replied with only 126 in their first game of the competition. The win continued Birmingham’s happy home trend against their arch-rivals. It was their sixth win in seven T20 tussles between the teams at Edgbaston.
Birmingham’s innings contained a string of small parts without a leading role as batsmen found it hard going. Brett D’Oliveira led the way in a disciplined collective bowling effort with 2-21 and 19-year-old debutant Ed Barnard also impressed as their tidy work forced mistakes as the batsmen tried to force the pace.
The most assertive knocks came at the beginning and end. Opener Will Porterfield hit three sixes in a 21-ball 27 before missing with a big hit at Joe Leach. Jeetan Patel went in with his side struggling on 104 for five in the 17th over and hit cleanly for an unbeaten 23 from 10 balls. Patel’s unbroken partnership of 40 from 29 balls with Ateeq Javid lifted the Bears to a total which was decent, if by no means daunting.
We just showed why you can never underestimate us as a team.
Recordo Gordon
Tom Kohler-Cadmore gave the Rapids’ reply early momentum until Recardo Gordon, playing his first game of the season for the Bears, came on for the fifth over and took wickets with his second and fourth balls to see the back of Kohler-Cadmore and Alex Gidman.
Barnard’s debut innings ended in a slapstick run-out with he and captain Daryl Mitchell meeting at the same end. Mitchell added 35 in six overs with Ross Whiteley but when he perished to Patel for 34, lifting a catch to deep midwicket, his team desperately needed some later-order heroics.
The former Derbyshire player looked likeliest to smite the Rapids to victory, lifting Rikki Clarke for six and hitting four fours on his way to 33 from 29 balls but when he sought to repeat the blow off Clarke but found only Patel on the deep midwicket boundary, it was 99 for eight and his team’s hopes went with him.
Recordo Gordon said: “We just showed why you can never underestimate us as a team. At the halfway point I think everyone thought we were behind the eight-ball but we always believe in ourselves as a team and we are always wanting to take wickets and we did that well today.
“It was great for me to take two wickets in my first over. In Twenty20 cricket taking wickets is the way forward because it stems the flow of runs and it was good to get a couple – bang, bang – to put us in the driving seat.”
Get Bears vs Rapids T20 Blast Tickets
Our next game is the massive local rivalry between Bears and Rapids. This game is always on of the highlights in our T20 calendar. Once again we’re delighted to be offering FREE admission for all Under 16s and our advanced sales window is now open, meaning you can save £4 on match day tickets when you buy online. To secure your tickets please click here.
