Report: Worcestershire Rapids 2nd XI v Birmingham Bears 2nd XI, SE T20 2017

Match 1

Toss won by Worcestershire Rapids 2nd XI who chose to field

Birmingham Bears 2nd XI 116-8 (20.0 overs)

Worcestershire Rapids 2nd XI 122-3 (14.1 overs)

Worcestershire 2nd XI (2 points) won by 7 wickets

Put into bat at RGS Worcester, the Bears never managed to build partnerships as Morris 3-27, Santner 2-18 and Malik 2-18 kept the batsmen under constant pressure. Yates’ late hitting in an unbeaten 41 from 23 deliveries, including two fours and four sixes, took the innings to 116-8.

In reply, Santner hit a rapid 32 from 17 balls and, despite losing Fell and Cox cheaply, Rhodes 46* and Westbury 21* shared an unbeaten half century partnership to bring the home side a comfortable seven wicket victory with 35 deliveries to spare.

Match 2

Toss won by Worcestershire 2nd XI who decided to field

Birmingham Bears 2nd XI 146-8 (20.0 overs)

Worcestershire 2nd XI 150-5 (17.2 overs)

Worcestershire 2nd XI (2 points) won by 5 wickets

In the second match Worcestershire Rapids once again put the Bears into bat and Lamb 40 with Porterfield 17 and Clarke 21 laid the base for Ahmed 25* and Richardson 33 to score late runs, taking the total on to 146-8 from their 20 overs.

In their reply, Worcestershire’s top order found Sunny Singh’s spin difficult to deal with as four wickets fell for 88, but Ross Whitley’s half century from 33 balls, with five sixes, in partnership with Barnard’s unbeaten 32 helped them reach their target with almost three overs to spare.

Singh 3-23 was the Bears’ best bowler with Poysden and Hannon-Dalby taking a wicket each.