Malik excited for Friday night Blast fixture at Edgbaston

Zen Malik is looking forward to walking out at Edgbaston Stadium for the final time in the group stages of this year’s Vitality Blast, when Warwickshire Bears take on Glamorgan on Friday night.

2026-07-09T15:35+01:00

The Bears go into the game, which starts at 7:00pm and is part of a huge double-header at The People’s Home of Cricket, knowing that only a win will do as they look to keep their slim hopes of progression to the Quarter Finals alive.

Malik says the team are taking it one game at a time as they bid to end the season with back-to-back wins, and he’s looking forward to putting on a show in front of a bumper crowd at Edgbaston.

“A lot has to go in our favour, so there’s a lot that’s out of our hands,” he said. “I know it’s cliché, but all we can do is prepare as well as we can, rock up tomorrow and try to put on a show for people that are coming to watch.

“The crowds have been amazing and hopefully it’s another great crowd tomorrow night. It’s an amazing feeling walking out on a Friday evening with a great crowd. As a player that’s everything you want.

“The pitch is always good, the ball feels like it flies off and the outfield is rapid, so it’s an amazing place to bat. I’m looking forward to going out there tomorrow.”

The Bears have won four of their last five games, with the one defeat coming against this week’s visitors, Glamorgan, last Friday at Sophia Gardens.

Malik has played a key part in the team’s improved form and produced one of the stand-out moments of the Bears’ campaign so far with a blistering 99 from 46 balls in a dominant win over local rivals Worcestershire last month.

“I’ve been pleased with how I’ve gone about things,” he added. “That’s the way I want to play my cricket, being positive and aggressive.

“Obviously it wasn’t ideal losing those first few games, which put us on the back foot, but what I wanted to keep within my own game was that aggression and that positive style of play.

“In T20 cricket it sometimes comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, so I think for me, it’s been important being consistent in my approach and just backing myself.

“Glamorgan are a good side, but I think every team in our group is a good side. There’s no real easy fixture.

“If we execute our skills as best as we can as bowling unit, with a good total on the board, I think we’re too good for most teams in the country, but it’s all about putting it together on the day. Hopefully we can do that tomorrow.”

Tickets remain available for Friday’s double-header, with Bears Women taking on Hampshire Hawks at 3:00pm, before Bears Men play Glamorgan at 7:00pm.