Birmingham Bears launch T20 campain with win
Birmingham Bears Women launched their T20 campaign with a six-run victory over Worcestershire in the first half of the double-header at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground today.
The Bears will face Surrey later today (4.30pm) buoyed by a good all-round performance to beat their neighbours.
Batting first, they made 148 for four, having been given a strong foundation with an opening stand of 81 between Gwenan Davies (40 from 32 balls with four fours) and Ria Fackrell (41, 42, three).
Thea Brookes then added an unbeaten 27 (24 balls, four fours) and Joanne Gardner provided late impetus with 14 not out from ten balls.
In reply, Worcestershire got off to a flying start before Georgia Davis dismissed both openers as her first three overs cost just 14 runs. A tight collective effort from the bowlers then maintained the pressure on the visitors who fell just short as Anisha Patel bowled 4-0-21-0, Rebecca Grundy 4-0-23-0, captain Marie Kelly 4-0-29-1 and Davis added another wicket in her final over to finish with excellent figures of 4-0-17-3.