Vitality Blast 2022, Birmingham Bears Vs Nottinghamshire Outlaws: Last ball thriller in the rain-affected the match

Outlaws needed three runs to win from the last ball, but batter Tom Moores could only find a single off Craig Miles to lose the match. Affected by rain, the game was reduced to 8 overs. With just eight overs to play, both teams gave their best, involving players retiring. 

Batting first, Birmingham Bear had a dodgy start with Matthew Carter striking Paul Stirling on the first ball. A 36-run partnership came from Jacob Bethell and Chris Benjamin in 16 balls. Bethell scored 17 off nine, whereas Benjamin scored 36 off 17. Adam Hose, Carlos Braithwaite (retired out), and Alex Davies made 12, 17, and 14, respectively, and thus posted a target of 99 for Outlaws in 8 overs. While all bowlers were struggling with an economy of 12-plus, Samit Patel was the only bowler who bowled with an economy of 6.

In an attempt to defend 99, Olly Stone got a breakthrough on the first ball, dismissing Joe Clarke for a duck. Alex Hales and Ben Duckett stitched 55 off 21 and were looking to go big further; however, Jake Lintott dismissed both of them. Tom Moores scored an unbeaten 20 off 13 while skipper Dan Christian could add 13 runs only. Samit Patel scored two off 2, retiring for Calvin Harrison to join. But Tom Moores failed to win it in the final ball for the team. The match looked to slip in favour of Outlaws in a 26-run over of Danny Briggs, but Jake Lintott was stunning, bowling with an economy of 3 and striking two wickets. 

Placed second in the group table, Bears will take on Durham on 8th June and look to continue winning momentum, whereas Outlaws, currently at the sixth spot, will lock horns with Yorkshire Vikings today, 6th June 2022, looking for a comeback.