Birmingham Bears Seal Top Spot with 72-Run Victory over Leicestershire Foxes

Birmingham Bears secured a resounding 72-run victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Edgbaston, securing the top spot in the Vitality Blast North Group final table. The Bears' triumph earned them a home quarter-final against Gloucestershire, while the Foxes' hopes of reaching the last eight were dashed on the final day.

Moeen Ali's scintillating third T20 century, a blistering 103 off 59 deliveries, propelled the Bears to a formidable total of 194 for 5. Ali's innings was adorned with nine towering sixes and seven boundaries, lifting the Bears from a promising 99 without loss in the ninth over. However, the Foxes' bowlers, led by the economical Scott Currie (2 for 26) and Josh Hull (2 for 34), managed to restrict the Bears' scoring rate in the latter stages of the innings.

The Foxes' batting lineup failed to match the Bears' firepower, collapsing to a meager 122 all out in 16.4 overs. Only Lewis Goldsworthy offered any resistance, scoring 35 runs. Craig Miles (2 for 12) dealt early blows to the Foxes' top order, while Danny Briggs (3 for 30) continued his impressive form, taking his tally in this season's competition to 27 wickets at an astonishing average of 12.81.

The Bears' innings began with a blistering start, racing to 69 without loss after six overs. Moeen Ali's power-hitting was on full display, as he pulled two consecutive sixes off James Neesham in the final two balls of the powerplay. Ali reached his half-century in just 28 balls and celebrated with successive sixes off Goldsworthy.

The Foxes' fightback began with the dismissal of Alex Davies, who was caught at long on by Ben Mike off Rehan Ahmed. Hull, Currie, and Louis Kimber bowled three economical overs, conceding only 11 runs and claiming the wickets of Dan Mousley and Chris Benjamin.

Moeen Ali's innings was reignited by two sixes off Rehan, and he survived a missed stumping off Kimber on 92 to reach a 54-ball century. However, the Foxes' bowlers continued to apply pressure, with Mike conceding just four runs from the 18th over. Ali eventually holed out to Hull in the last over, and the Bears finished with a total of 194 for 5.

The Foxes' chase was derailed by early wickets, with Sol Budinger, Rishi Patel, and Rehan Ahmed all falling cheaply. Peter Handscomb's dismissal to Briggs left the Foxes' top four all out in single figures. Briggs continued his wicket-taking spree, removing Neesham and Kimber, while Ed Barnard took a stunning catch to dismiss Goldsworthy.

The Bears' victory secured their place in the knockouts, while the Foxes' campaign ended with a disappointing defeat.

Tags: #VitalityBlast, #BirminghamBears, #LeicestershireFoxes, #MoeenAli, #T20Century