Chris Woakes wins thriller with last-ball six

Photo courtesy of Bangladesh Premier League

Warwickshire favourite Chris Woakes has returned to competitive cricket in style, hitting a six off the final ball of a T20 match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to seal the victory for the Sylhet Titans.

The Titans were chasing a modest 112 from 20 overs, but stalled their way towards the total, Sam Billings top-scoring with 29 from 40 balls.

Woakes was making his debut for the Titans in the BPL, and found himself on strike for the last ball with six needed to win.

Woakes came to the crease following Billings’ departure with the score at 97/6, and found a familiar face in former Bear Moeen Ali at the other end. 

Together, they helped the Titans up to 105 before Ali fell to the fourth ball of the final over.

Khaled Ahmed then knocked his first ball for a single, leaving the Wizard with an uphill battle to secure victory.

Faheem Asharaf was the bowler, a player with over 100 international appearances under his belt.

But that meant nothing to Woakes, who powerfully drove him for six over cover, clearing the boundary by 20 yards and sealing victory, prompting wild scenes of celebration from the Titans dugout.

Speaking after the game, Woakes said: “I knew as soon as I hit it; I knew it was six. But it was a tough game, a tricky, tricky pitch.

“But whenever you only need a hit, you know, whether it be six or four, I think I always try to put myself in the bowler’s shoes. You’re always under pressure to defend the game and to win the game for your team, and it’s always a tough moment to bowl six amazing deliveries.

“So you felt that the game was slipping away, but the fact that we were always only one hit away gives you confidence.” 

Alongside his excellent spell of 2/15 from four overs in the first innings, this is a timely reminder of what Woakes has to offer the Bears, after his recent retirement from international cricket and subsequent signing of a new two-year deal with Warwickshire.

Woakes’ summer was ended prematurely in the final Test match of the England vs India series, when he dislocated his shoulder attempting to save a boundary. 

He made only one appearance for the Bears last season against Worcestershire at New Road in the County Championship, taking six wickets as a final day of rain frustrated the Bears, with the match ending in a draw.

Woakes’ all-format deal will take him to 2027, which will be his 22nd year as a Bear.