Birmingham Bears Clinch Top Spot with Dominant Win Over Leicestershire Foxes
The Birmingham Bears secured the top position in the Vitality Blast North Group with a convincing 72-run victory over the Leicestershire Foxes at Edgbaston. This victory earned the Bears a home quarter-final against Gloucestershire, while the Foxes missed out on a playoff spot on the final day of the group stage.
Moeen Ali’s third T20 century powered the Bears to a formidable 194 for five. Ali scored 103 off 59 balls, hitting nine sixes and seven fours. The Bears had a strong start, reaching 99 without loss in the ninth over, but Leicestershire’s bowlers, led by Scott Currie (two for 26) and Josh Hull (two for 34), managed to stem the flow of runs in the latter half of the innings.
Chasing 195, the Foxes faltered and were all out for 122 in 16.4 overs. Lewis Goldsworthy was the only batter to show resistance with 35 off 34 balls. Craig Miles (two for 12) and Danny Briggs (three for 30) were instrumental in the Bears’ victory, with Briggs increasing his season tally to 27 wickets.
Electing to bat, Birmingham raced to 69 without loss after six overs. Moeen Ali showcased his power, pulling the last two balls of the powerplay for six and reaching his half-century in just 28 balls. The opening partnership of 99 was broken when Alex Davies (31 off 22) was caught by Ben Mike off Rehan Ahmed.
The Foxes then fought back impressively. Three overs from Hull, Currie, and Louis Kimber cost just 11 runs and brought the wickets of Dan Mousley and Chris Benjamin. Moeen Ali reignited the innings with two sixes off Rehan Ahmed, reaching his century off 54 balls. Despite Moeen’s efforts, the Bears’ last ten overs added only 85 runs.
Leicestershire’s chase was derailed by early wickets. Sol Budinger edged a delivery from Zak Foulkes, and Miles took the wickets of Rishi Patel and Rehan Ahmed. Peter Handscomb’s dismissal to Briggs left the Foxes reeling. Briggs continued his dominance with the help of Ed Barnard’s spectacular catch to remove Kimber. The Foxes’ innings ended meekly, marking a disappointing conclusion to their campaign.
Sam Curran’s Century Leads Surrey to Victory
Sam Curran’s unbeaten 102 guided South Group leaders Surrey to a five-wicket victory over Hampshire, securing a home quarter-final in the process. In the Sustainabili-T20 match at The Kia Oval, Surrey will be planting 192 trees in celebration of the 27 fours and 14 sixes hit during the game.
Curran’s innings, featuring six sixes and seven fours from 58 balls, helped Surrey chase down a target of 184 with five balls to spare. Curran, who was caught off a no-ball on 44, shared key partnerships with Dominic Sibley (27) and Jamie Overton (21). John Turner claimed 2-30 for Hampshire.
Hampshire’s total of 183 was built around Toby Albert’s career-best 66. Despite positive starts from their batters, Jordan Clark’s 3-24 and Matt Dunn’s two wickets kept Hampshire in check.
Batting first, Hampshire adopted an aggressive approach. Ben McDermott hit the game’s first six but was caught on the boundary. Dunn also dismissed Tom Prest, while James Vince was bowled by Clark after a brief flourish. Hampshire were 65-4 when Joe Weatherley was out early.
Albert accelerated the innings with two sixes but other batters couldn’t capitalize on their starts. Benny Howell and James Fuller were both dismissed playing ambitious shots. Liam Dawson’s brief spark ended with a run-out, and Albert’s composed late acceleration took Hampshire to a respectable 183.
Surrey’s chase began poorly, losing Will Jacks and Laurie Evans early to Brad Wheal. Rory Burns was dismissed by Eddie Jack’s stunning catch off John Turner’s bowling, leaving Surrey at 27-3.
Curran then took control, hitting Dawson and Howell for sixes. Despite losing Sibley, Curran reached his fifty and continued his aggressive approach. Overton supported with successive sixes off Jack, and though he departed before the end, Curran’s fireworks saw Surrey home, securing their spot in the quarter-finals.
