Bears Blast Best: Worcestershire Rapids

The Bears go head-to-head with West Midlands rivals Worcestershire Rapids on Friday night in a bid to retain the Norman Gifford Trophy.

Brian Halford looks at the best performances from the Bears against our nearest rivals, dating back to the start of the T20 Cup in 2003.

Best Innings – 89

Nick Knight (Worcester, 2003)

On June 18, 2003, the Bears and the Rapids met for the first time in T20. The historic day was graced by an innings which remains, nearly 20 years later, the best by a Bear against their old rivals in the format.

Nick Knight, one of the best ODI batsmen in the world, showed immediately that he could switch to the shortest format and play with just as much skill and effectiveness. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, he faced the first ball in a T20 derby at New Road, from Matt Mason, and went on to underpin the innings with a glorious 89 from 58 balls with nine fours and three sixes.

The elegant left-hander was closing in on a century with three overs to spare when he fell, stumped off Gareth Batty, but had done more than enough to set up a win for his team.

The Bears made 175 (no one else reached 20) then restricted the Rapids to 155 for five thanks to a brilliant spell from Neil Carter (4-0-19-3), supported by wickets too for Waqar Younis, Neil Smith and Ian Bell.

Best Bowling – 5/19

Neil Carter (Edgbaston, 2005)

Bears Blast Best: Worcestershire Rapids - Image 2

July 1, 2005, delivered one of the great T20 tussles between the Bears and the Rapids.

The visitors won by one run inside a packed Edgbaston. It was a magnificent match which left the stadium buzzing after Heath Streak had very nearly managed to hit 20 from the last three balls (with a no ball thrown in!) to steal victory for the Bears.

And earlier in the evening, 'Carts' had produced bowling figures which remain the Bears' best in the Blast...against the Rapids or anyone else.

After the Rapids chose to bat, Streak quickly took out danger man Graeme Hick, caught by wicketkeeper Stuart Eustace. Several Rapids batters made starts but progressed little further...and then Carter got among the middle order.

With fast, accurate swing bowling, the left-armer took down Stephen Peters and David Leatherdale just as they were starting to threaten. The Rapids needed some late impetus, but were denied it as Carter dismissed David Pipe, Daryl Mitchell and Nadeem Malik to finish with figures of 3.5-0-19-5.

Carter's superb work sent the Rapids all out for 141, a target to which he then gave the Bears a lively launch with 17 from six balls. An truly amazing match then unfolded as the Bears lurched to 81 for nine before Streak (59 from 32 balls) and Jimmy Anyon (eight not out from 14) added 59 before Streak was run out off the last ball going for a second run that would have won the game.