In partnership with Lord Combustion, we're taking a look at some of the best performances from a Bear in a white ball final.
September 4, 1993, is a day embedded deep in the memory of Warwickshire supporters.
It was the day of the NatWest Trophy final, described by Wisden as “the greatest final.” Warwickshire beat Sussex by five wickets after Sussex piled up 321 for six and the Bears reached 322 for five from the final ball of the 60th over.
It was an exhilarating team effort but one player was the main man behind the sensational victory.
Asif Din went into bat with the Bears wobbling on 93 for three. He came out, with a brilliant 104 to his name, at 306 for five having taken his team to the brink of a historic win.
“It is a very special memory,” says Asif. “It is special knowing that people still talk about it as the best game ever at Lord’s when you think of all the games that have been played there.
“There are many highlights in life; your marriage, your first child – as a cricketer, your first century and five-for. But to score a hundred in a Lord’s final, and in that Lord’s final, for the county you have played for all your career – well, it doesn’t get better than that.
“321 was a formidable score but we said to ourselves let’s just relax, go out there and be positive and see where it takes us. I had been due to go in at seven but when we lost those two quick wickets Dermot Reeve, the captain, told me to pad up. I did that and went and lay on the bench in the dressing-room and watched the game on the telly. Then Dominic Ostler got out.
“It helped us that Sussex, with a big total in the bank, were happy to give us singles. I think it was when the PA announcer gave the score after 40 overs, and ours was exactly what Sussex’s had been, that we thought this was ‘game on.’
“All we were focused on was the 321 we needed. It was as though I was in a shell, shutting out the crowd noise, so it came as a big surprise when I suddenly saw I was in the 90s. I had got to 60 mostly in singles but went from 60 to 90 quite quickly.
“Then I got out in the penultimate over to the sweetest hit I made all day! That left 15 off the last and Dermot played it brilliantly against Franklyn Stephenson and it came down to two off the last ball and Twosey did it. What a finish!”
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