Bears Take Top Spot

A comprehensive all-round performance from the Bears – as they defeated Leicestershire Foxes by eight runs – saw them finish the FP t20 group stage in style and in the number one spot.

On a slow pitch at Grace Road the Bears batted first and, thanks to another impressive display from twenty20 stalwart and ex-Fox Darren Maddy (41*) and a late-order flurry from Chris Woakes (18 from eight balls), set the hosts a target of 138 for victory.

Unfortunately for the Foxes, their poor home form continued as they struggled to keep up with the required rate, even going for 10 consecutive overs without a boundary. Two wickets from Woakes to dismiss the openers (and to secure his Man of the Match award) and two from Keith Barker in the 16th over helped put the final nails in the home side’s coffin as they found themselves needing 17 runs off the last six. Tight bowling by Neil Carter ensured this wasn’t to happen and Leicestershire slumped to 129-6, eight runs shy of the Warwickshire total.

Earlier, the Bears lost England rising star Jonathan Trott early (trapped lbw for two) but Carter, Barker, Jim Troughton and Maddy were all on hand to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with Maddy hitting three of the five sixes of the innings. The other two came from number eight batsman Woakes, who gave the England selectors good reason to keep him in their eyesight.

This victory secures a home quarter-final tie for the Bears against Hampshire on 26 July.