Bags Of Runs But No Weekend Win

A weekend of Twenty20 action saw the Bears frustrated despite strong batting performances. They suffered a loss to an inspired Durham side and were then washed out against Lancashire after posting 196 for 9.

When you score nigh on 400 runs in two 20 over matches over a long weekend, you don’t really expect to end up with just one point but that’s what happened to Warwickshire as they succumbed to Dynamos on Friday night and were then frustrated by the weather after setting an imposing total on Sunday afternoon against Lancashire Lightning.

The north group is now highly congested at the top but the Bears will be happy enough with their start after a quarter of their matches, with most parts of their game in good working order.

On Friday night, the Dynamos’ Ross Taylor and Ian Blackwell notched rapid half-centuries as Durham registered their first Friends Provident t20 win of the season. Kiwi Taylor smote 64 from only 28 balls and Blackwell went on to make 79, enabling the Dynamos to go beyond 200 for the first time in short-form cricket. Their 215 for 6 was also the highest score conceded by the Bears.

Ian Bell continued his sparkling form and hit 85 from 47 balls to leave the Bears needing 52 with five overs to go, but then two wickets in two balls from Steve Harmison turned the match, seeing the back of Bell and Troughton, with Warwickshire ending up reaching the 200 mark but 15 shy of what would have been a stunning win.

On Sunday’s family fun day, with bouncy castles, face painting and pirate treasure entertaining the crowds on a blustery day, the Bears continued their solid Twenty20 batting form this season by registering 196 for 9 before the rain set in.