A famous old tournament left the English cricket scene for good...and an immense young talent fully announced himself to a global audience for the future.
It was a great day for the Bears as they lifted the trophy with a five-wicket win over a powerful Essex side. They won comfortably in the end, thanks to the batting talents of a very special home-grown player.
Having restricted Essex to 181 for eight from 50 overs, the Bears then hit early trouble at 21 for two but 20-year-old Ian Bell was unfazed. First in partnership with fellow Edgbaston product Jim Troughton (who turned the game round with an exhilarating cameo 37 with eight fours), Bell eased his side to victory with a high-class unbeaten 65 (89 balls, seven fours).
