Bears progress to Semi-Finals

• 04/09/2010

The Warwickshire Bears beat The Nottinghamshire Outlaws by 7 wickets to progress to the semi-final stages of the Clydesdale Bank 40 Cup where they will play Yorkshire at Scarborough

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The Outlaws skipper Chris Read chose to bat at Edgbaston in this "must win" final Division C fixture to determine which side would progress to the semi-finals in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Alex Hales and Akhil Patel  got the visitors off to a good start posting forty four for the first wicket before Chris Woakes struck, when Patel 21 was caught in the covers by Ant Botha, who then had Notts other opener, Hales 34 caught on the long-on boundary by Jim Troughton.

The introduction of Imran Tahir into the attack proved to be the turning point, as he destroyed the Outlaws' middle-order removing Samit Patel 3, Scott Elstone 5, Chris Read 35 and finally Adam Voges 54 to leave Nottinghamshire struggling to post a meaningful total on a wicket suited to batting.

Neil Carter wrapped up the Outlaws innings  for 192, a total that always looked to be thirty or forty short of par and when Carter 32 and Trott posted sixty one for the opening wicket in their reply, the Bears looked to be coasting to a comfortable victory.

Keith Barker was stumped by Read off Graeme White for seventeen but Ian Bell and Trott both made half centuries as they clinically knocked off the required runs before Bell 50 was caught with just six needed.

Troughton's drive through extra cover for four completed a seven wicket win and a match against Yorkshire in the semi-finals at Scarborough next Saturday.