Ed Pollock, Alex Thomson and Michael Burgess warmed up for the first-team Vitality Blast with strong performances as Birmingham Bears 2nd XI finished honours even in a double-header with Lancashire at Moseley.
The Red Rose won the first match by 18 runs after successfully defending a total of 149 for seven (George Garrett four for 24, Thompson 4-0-20-1). Pollock then launched the Bears’ reply with 33 from 14 balls but thereafter only Dan Mousley (25, 18 balls) offered much as the innings fell away to 131 for nine.
In the second game, Lancashire again batted first and this time were lifted to 172 for eight by Aussie star James Faulkner’s 73 from 41 balls. Thomson again bowled skilfully for 4-0-19-2 before opening the batting with Pollock and laying a match-winning foundation.
Pollock hit 47 (23 balls) and Thomson 37 (24) before Michael Burgess took the game right away from the visitors with 52 from 32 balls with four fours and three sixes. Liam Banks’ unbeaten 21 saw the Bears over the line with eight balls to spare.
