Report: Bears v Worcestershire, Vitality County Women’s T20, Match Two
Birmingham Bears completed successive victories against Worcestershire Rapids, winning the second double header by 113 runs, bowling the opposition out for 68 in an emphatic win.
Eve Jones continued her excellent form of the day with a crucial 39 alongside Gwenan Davies scoring 37 as they put on a partnership of 61, coupled with other useful contributions from Kelly and Brookes.
Bears’ bowlers backed this up, reducing the visitors to 15/4 in the fifth over with some restrictive bowling and accurate fielding, before taking four wickets for 12 runs to seal back-to-back victories against Midlands rivals.
In the first innings, openers Kelly and Davies put on 53 for the opening partnership, as they began to motor along until Kelly was bowled for 30 in the sixth over.
Fackrell came in but was caught for four before Jones came in and picked up where she left of, in a fluid partnership with Davies.
Their partnership reached 61 in the 14th over, before Davies was bowled for 37. Gardner came in with intent but was caught for 5, as Bears reached 140/3 after 15 overs.
Jones kept the scoreboard ticking along and allowed the incoming batter, Thea Brookes to play some powerful shots to take the Bears passed 150. An unfortunate mix-up brought an end to the fluid partnership, as Jones was ran out for 39.
Brookes found the boundary in the final two overs, with the hosts finishing on 181/5, and herself not out on 22.
It was an impressive start to Worcestershire’s run chase, as the Bears took four wickets in the first five overs, leaving Rapids needing 167 from 15 overs.
Laura Smitten on debut ran out Macey in the first over, before Davis got 2 wickets for 9 runs, with Home stumped for 6 and Boycott caught behind for the same score. Gardner then bowled an excellent delivery to send Hill’s stumps flying, as she was bowled without scoring.
After keeping scoring difficult for Worcestershire, four wickets fell for 12 runs in the latter stages of their chase. Anisha Patel got her first wicket, as Howell was caught for 15, and next over Hannah Baker got Anderson caught for 1. Pavely was then ran out 20 and Baker got her second wicket, bowling Bertwhistle for 5.
The two final wickets fell when Russell ran out Hardwick in the 15th over, before Brookes secured the tenth wicket of Wale as Rapids were all out for 68 to complete a comprehensive victory.
