Briggs feels back to his best as Bears turn to spin

Danny Briggs believes he’s back to his best after last season’s injury niggles on a day when the Bears’ Kings of Spin took all 10 wickets against Lancashire Lightning.

Briggs delighted a bumper Edgbaston crowd by seeing off the Lightning innings in clinical fashion with three wickets in four deliveries to post figures of 4/15.

But the Vitality Blast’s all-time leading wicket taker – his four latest scalps took him to 212 in the tournament – was quick to praise his fellow spinners for tearing through the top order.

Player of the Match Dan Mousley took 3/13 – including a fine diving caught and bowled to see off opener Luke Wells – Jake Lintott 2/24, and Glenn Maxwell claimed the first wicket with only his fourth ball on his Bears’ home debut.

“It was cool to bowl that much spin,” said Briggs. “Sometimes there’s just one or two of us complementing the seamers, but conditions suited, we adapted to them quickly and took full advantage. 

“I’m happy with the way I bowled and pleased for the other spinners as well. They got the top order out so perhaps it was easier for me to mop up the tail when we’ve really dominated that front half of the batting order.

“I feel good, my body feels good. I had a few niggles last year, especially during T20 last summer, but I feel like I’m bowling well and long may it continue.”

Briggs’ four-for followed his three wicket haul at Leicestershire Foxes on Friday and takes his T20 tally for the Bears to 40.

The 32-year-old underwent a knee operation at the end of last year – surgery that prevented him playing for Sharjah Warriors in the UAE International League T20 – but he’s feeling no ill effects of the procedure.

And he’s looking forward to more success as the Blast games come thick and fast.

He added: “To come through a tough game (against Lancashire) with a win, and to really hammer it home in that fashion, was really good. We’ve got a big week ahead so to break the back of it is great.

“We’ve had loads of fun in the first three games, we’ve got Mo to come soon as well, the squad is so strong and that shows with some of the high quality players who are missing out at the moment. We’re in a good place, winning, and we’ll look to continue that run.

“It was great that the Edgbaston crowd came out to back us (more than 11,000 were at the game) and that we could repay them with a win. The first two crowds we’ve had here have been immense and the players are really grateful for their support.”