Bears Second XI seal place in T20 Cup Final in final-ball thriller against Northants

Warwickshire Bears Second XI moved a step closer to securing a second successive T20 Cup title by sealing their place in the final with a thrilling one-run victory over Northamptonshire at Wormsley Cricket Club.

2026-07-07T14:25+01:00

The Bears will now play either Nottinghamshire or Sussex in the Final later today (Tuesday 7 July).

In a back-and-forth contest, the Bears had posted a competitive total of 142 before the bowling unit impressed to restrict Northants to 141, with Theo Wylie holding his nerve in the final over and Vansh Jani running out Adam Fox with the final ball of the chase to make sure of a one-run victory.

Northants, who won the toss, elected to bowl first and had the Bears 23 for two after dismissing Omaris Khan and Hamza Shaikh early in the innings.

Davies then joined Jani at the crease, with the pair putting on 46 for the third wicket, thanks to a 19-ball 40 from Jani, who struck two fours and four sixes.

Davies then held the innings together, scoring 35 from 33, however wickets fell at regular intervals as Northants fought their way back into the contest, bowing the Bears out with four balls of the innings remaining for 142.

Northants’ reply got off to a good start, however Nathan Gilchrist (three for 17), who was the pick of the Bears bowlers, struck three times in the space of three overs to leave Northants 37 for three.

The Bears continued to take wickets and restrict runs, with the bowling unit of Olly Hannon-Dalby (one for 27), Ethan Bamber (one for 31), Che Simmons (one for 34) and Taz Ali (one for 21), all contributing as Northants looked to be out of the contest on 84 for seven, still needing 59 to win off six overs.

A quick-fire 41-run stand between Rob Keogh (33) and Liam Guthrie (24) tipped the game in Northants’ favour though, however stand-out death bowling from Gilchrist, who went for six off the penultimate over, left Northants needing 11 for victory off the final six balls.

Theo Wylie, bowling for the first time in the match, conceded eight runs off his first five balls, with Northants requiring three to win off the final ball. With the ball hit to Jani at long off, Jani’s throw the keepers’ end saw Keogh just short of his ground, giving the Bears a one-run win in a nail-biting finish.

Second XI Coach, Simon Kerrigan, said: “What a performance. In the field there, we scrapped for every run.

“We knew we were short on runs so to have the Power Play we had with the ball, taking wickets and winning the runs was a great effort.

“At the end, they had a good partnership, they struck it well, and it looked like they were firm favourites with three or four overs left. Our death bowling was so clear, and we looked calm out there. They executed most importantly.

“Then for Theo Wylie not to have bowled a ball all innings and then bowl the last over to a set batter and to nail six yokers. He's done it this year for us already, but to do it on this stage where it matters, every credit to him. I'm thrilled for him.