Adam Hose thoroughly enjoyed having the “best seat in the house” at Edgbaston last Friday – at the other end of the pitch while Ian Bell was unfurling a brilliant century in the Vitality Blast against Northants Steelbacks.
Bell’s 131 from 62 balls ranks among the finest T20 knocks ever played while Hose was in fine form himself, contributing 64 to a world record T20 third-wicket stand of 171 from 85 balls.
It was a shame we couldn’t quite get over the line but to believe that we can chase down 231 shows the character we have in the dressing-room.
cite=”Adam Hose
It was a sensational partnership and part of a sensational night at Edgbaston which ended with the match tied after both sides made 231 for five. And Hose reckons that, though denied victory, getting so close to pulling off such a massive chase can only boost the Bears as they prepare for four successive T20 away games, starting at Yorkshire Vikings on Friday.
“It was a real shame that we couldn’t win the game but we have to take a step back and consider what we were so close to achieving,” he said. “I think we can take a lot of confidence from that.
“When I was walking out there at 23 for two the target did seem a little bit daunting but Belly just said to me ‘let’s take it ball by ball.’ We had to throw some punches in that powerplay and throughout the innings but watching Belly from the other end I had the best seat in the house.
“It was one of the best knocks I have ever seen. I’ve been fortunate enough to see a couple of big hundreds from Belly this year and he’s like a fine wine – he just keeps getting better.
“To be honest, I struggled a little bit early on, I think I was only on 26 or 27 off 20 balls and I was trying to be aggressive but it wasn’t working at that time. But Belly just kept reassuring me and telling me to stay patient and I would catch up and fortunately that happened.
“It was a shame we couldn’t quite get over the line but to believe that we can chase down 231, and then back that belief up out in the middle, shows the character we have in the dressing-room.
“As a team we know we haven’t quite executed as a bowling unit yet but we have some great players in there and we have full faith in them. They are going to come good and that will make us a really difficult team to beat.”
