Bears’ winning streak in the North Group came to an end at Derby as the Falcons’ Wayne Madsen continued his remarkable run of form in the Vitality Blast to set up a 17-run victory.
Madsen came into the game on the back of three fifties and a hundred and delivered another white ball masterclass with an unbeaten 71 off 52 balls out of 174 for 5.
Tom Woods hammered 39 from 19 as he and Madsen plundered 79 off 41 balls with Glenn Maxwell taking 2 for 19 in four overs.
The Bears hopes of equalling their best ever start in the T20 with a fifth victory quickly faded as they slipped to 45 for 4 in the powerplay with England’s Moeen Ali falling for 16.
Maxwell briefly threatened with 29 off 22 balls before Dan Mousley and Ed Barnard added 49 off 30 but the Bears came up short on 157 for 9 with Zak Chappell taking 3 for 32 and Zaman Khan 3 for 34.
