MATCH REPORT: Wells stars as Lancs win by eight runs against Birmingham Bears
Luke Wells equalled his career-best T20 score and took two key wickets as Lancashire made it three wins from four games to remain top of the Vitality Blast North Group following an eight-run victory against Birmingham Bears.
The Lightning, who average 170 when batting first at Emirates Old Trafford in T20, posted a slightly above par 176 for eight led by Wells’ thrilling 66 at the top of the order.
The Bears kept themselves in contention for a large part of an exciting contest before succumbing for 168 for six to an excellent bowling and fielding display by the Lightning who are now unbeaten in 23 home group games in this competition.
Lancashire made early inroads into the visitors top order as Birmingham set off in pursuit of their 177 target, Alex Davies out early for 16 after slicing Mitch Stanley to Josh Bohannon at third man followed by Rob Yates who departed for 7 to a sensational diving catch at deep midwicket in the following over by Jack Blatherwick off Luke Wood. Wells (two for 25) then bowled Chris Benjamin for 15 with his fourth delivery to leave the Bears 56 for three in the seventh over.
And Lancashire, a bowler down after Stanley departed with an injury, put the squeeze on their opponents by largely taking pace off the ball after the powerplay ended, with Birmingham only managing one four in the following six overs.
Dan Mousley chanced his arm when pace returned but pulled the first ball of Saqib Mahmood’s second over down the throat of Wells at fine leg for 11, with the Bears 76 for four at the start of the 11th over requiring 101 off 59 balls.
That left the main responsibility on Sam Hain who held the innings together superbly going to his half century from 36 balls and well supported by Jacob Bethell.
The pair took 15 from the 14th over from Mahmood and 13 off Wood from the next to keep the Bears in the hunt. Bethell next hit Blatherwick for six to bring the equation down to 44 runs required from four overs.
But Wells' great night continued when Bethell edged an attempted cut behind to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst after making 33 off 22 balls in a partnership of 62 from 40 balls, followed by Hain driving Wood to Wells – who else – at mid-off to end his fine innings at 59 leaving the visitors chasing 30 runs off 11 balls.
Wood and Mahmood made sure that task was beyond George Garton (8 not out) and Hassan Ali (17 not out) with two late sixes by the latter making the margin of victory look closer than it really was.
At the start of the evening Wells equalled his T20 career-best with a scintillating 66 off 32 balls from the top of the order as Lightning posted 176 for eight after being put in to bat.
Josh Bohannon hit Garton for six and four at the start of the innings but was bowled for 18 next ball attempting to ramp the left arm pace bowler.
Wells took over the scoring in sensational style during explosive fourth that saw 27 runs taken off the first over from Hassan Ali after Wells hit the first three balls for six and the fourth for four.
Mousley had a similar experience conceding 22 runs in the next over, his first, as Wells continued the onslaught hitting two more sixes with the second bringing up a 22-ball fifty for the tall left hander, two shy of equalling Jos Buttler’s fastest T20 fifty for the Lightning.
Keaton Jennings had been content to play a supporting role in making 18 of the second wicket partnership of 80 in 35 balls before he was stumped after going down the wicket to left arm spinner Jake Lintott.
And after hitting 5 sixes and 5 fours Wells departed for 66 when stumped by Davies off Lintott in the 11th over and Tom Bruce was caught at long-on for 11 off left arm spinner Danny Briggs in the next with Lightning 117 for four as the Bears regrouped successfully.
The spin of Lintott (two for 29 off four overs) and Briggs (one for 24 off 4) slowed the Lightning progress significantly in a five over spell without a boundary, ended in the 16th over by Chris Green cutting Briggs to the backward point fence.
Matty Hurst was run out for 7 trying to sneak a quickly-run two but beaten by Garton’s direct throw running in from deep midwicket, but Green (17) and Steven Croft (26), who hit Lintott for six in 18th over, pressed the accelerator during the closing overs with a partnership of 40 to help steer Lightning to a total of 176 for eight.
That proved to be enough to keep the Lightning top of the table.
“We’re really pleased with the win,” said Luke Wells.
“Birmingham Bears are a top team so to get a win and continue our unbeaten streak here was really important.
“It gives us a lot of belief as well because it wasn’t an easy win.
“I felt that it was a 200-run pitch. It wasn’t spinning that much and they bowled pretty well on it. They managed to restrict us pretty well even though we got off to a good start.
“The fact we were able to defend that total and they had wickets in hand towards the end, I thought it was a really good performance from our bowlers.
“We took boundaries away from them and were going for eight runs or less per over which meant the rate required was going higher and higher, and suddenly they need fourteen an over and we get a couple of wickets (as a result) and we win.
“This was a really good win because we’ve been tested.”
“I still pinch myself that I’m playing a part in T20 cricket having played so little of it before coming here," he added.
“This year I’ve performed better in the white ball game. My red ball (game) is a little topsy-turvey.
“I’m really pleased to contribute to wins and still determined to contribute whatever the format.
“Four day cricket can be brutal when it’s not going well, so to have the opportunity to come out with less consequence if you get out and more freedom and – for me – knowing I’ve got two attributes in this format, and can potentially change a game with either bat or ball has helped take the pressure off.
“I’m really enjoying it and hopefully I can keep helping win games for the club.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams, Dan Adams