Warwickshire Bears vs Sussex Sharks

By Joseph Chapman, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Warwickshire Bears sealed a third successive Vitality Blast victory at Edgbaston as they eased past Sussex Sharks by 76 runs, thanks to half–century knocks from three of their top order batters and a clinic in quality quick bowling.

Rob Yates (54 from 27 balls), Beau Webster (60 from 42 balls) and Sam Hain (68 not out from 38 balls) all passed 50 as the Bears posted an imposing total of 198 for 3, which Sussex never truly appeared close to reaching, eventually limping to 122 all out with Richard Gleeson proving tormentor-in-chief.

Yates, who was dismissed for a two-ball duck against Worcestershire Rapids last Friday, atoned for that lack of contribution with a substantial one here. The opener took Tymal Mills for 21 runs in the seamer’s first over which included two towering sixes.

Yates ran with a little fortuitous momentum and proceeded to confidently lift Henry Crocombe over the slips for four before then swatting the young quick away through mid-wicket for six more.

Zen Malik was stumped by former Bears spinner Danny Briggs (two for 36) and, when Yates departed in similar fashion to Jack Carson having secured a 22-ball half-century, Sussex appeared to have hauled themselves back into the contest.

Webster and Hain began to accelerate again, putting on 76 runs in the space of seven overs in the middle of the innings before Webster was trapped LBW by Briggs five shy of a century stand.

Hain had allowed Webster to exploit the role of aggressor during their partnership but took up that mantle himself in the closing stages.

He reached his own 50 in 31 deliveries and managed to spear Mills away for six as part of a nine-ball, 14-run final over which saw the Bears climb up to 198.

The Sharks were steady if unspectacular in the opening stages of their chase but they themselves were just beginning to pick up the pace when Harrison Ward (23 from 15 balls) chopped on when facing down Gleeson (four for 19).

George Thomas (15 from 7 balls) made an instant impression at the crease; he took Webster for 14 runs in the final over of the powerplay to bump Sussex back up towards the required run rate.

In the very next over, though, Usman Tariq struck when he trapped Thomas in front to ensure the young batter’s stay was short-lived - and that proved to be a similar story for Oli Carter (12 from 9 balls), whose leg stump was ripped from the ground when he failed in sweeping Webster.

When opener Dan Hughes (38 from 31 balls) perished, victim of a jaffa from Jordan Thompson which sent his bails flying, things began to look rather ominous for Sussex’s lower order.

The pressure on the tail to produce runs led to ill-timed and ill-advised shot selection, which Gleeson took full advantage of and his searing pace and full length deliveries proved far too good for Carson, Briggs and Hunt as the Bears coasted to the points with more than three overs to spare.