Warwickshire Bears Second XI have successfully qualified for T20 Finals Day after winning by 22 runs against Somerset at Edgbaston Community Sports Ground.
The Bears will end the group stage in first place of the Central Group on 32 points having secured seven wins, a tie, one loss and one no result.
Having won the toss, Warwickshire elected to bat first, and much like they have done throughout the group stage, put on a daunting total for Somerset to chase.
Opening batter Vansh Jani struck a blistering 83 off just 32 balls in an innings that included six fours and eight sixes before Hamza Shaikh (29 off 25), MO Khan (20 off 15) and Nathan Gilchrist (24 off 15) all made important contributions to go with Jani’s fireworks, as the Bears reached 197 for nine from their 20 overs.
Somerset’s reply got off to the perfect start as they reached 65 without loss after five overs before Gilchrist dismissed Josh Thomas for 32.
Theo Wylie (two for 25) then entered the attack and picked up the wickets of two set batters. Archie Vaughan (53) was first to go, bowled attempting to reverse sweep, before Wylie struck again two overs later, bowling Theo Lamey for 48.
Some tight bowling in the middle overs left Somerset needing 60 from the final four overs, with Che Simmonds’ (two for 25) two wickets in two balls helping to see the Bears to an impressive victory as Somerset ended their innings on 175 for six.
Finals day takes place on Tuesday 7 July at Sir Paul Getty’s Ground in Wormsley.