Bears Blast Best: Yorkshire Vikings

Brian Halford looks back at special performance against the Vikings in the Vitality Blast.

In T20 cricket, a brisk start to an innings is always welcome.

When, in 2018, the Bears set out in pursuit of Yorkshire Vikings' total of 157, they got off to quite a brisk start. After one over, the total was 33 for 0.

It was one of the most memorable overs in Bears T20 history, courtesy of Ed Pollock.

The Bears had bowled well to limit the powerful Vikings batting to 157. They started brilliantly when Henry Brookes's second ball trapped Adam Lyth lbw. Brookes then also took out Harry Brook while Olly Hannon-Dalby removed the dangerous Tom Kohler-Cadmore to leave the Vikings 28 for three.

Gary Ballance hit a fine 79 from 49 balls but nobody else reached 20 against an excellent bowling display led by Hannon-Dalby against his old club with three for 37.

The Bears' reply then began with an unforgettable over as Matt Fisher ran into Pollock at its pyrotechnical best. He smashed two sixes and two fours which, along with five wides, saw more than a third of the target eaten up in five minutes.

Pollock's blistering 39 from just 14 balls (five fours, three sixes) meant the Bears already had 55 on the board from four overs. The rest was easy as Ian Bell stroked a measured unbeaten 50 and Adam Hose unleashed more fireworks (51 not out, 33 balls, three fours, four sixes) in an unbroken stand of 83 from 53 balls.

The Bears won by eight wickets with 25 balls to spare - the only bowler to elude punishment, Tim Bresnan. He delivered three skilful overs for just 14 and also took a fine catch at long leg to remove Sam Hain.