Birmingham 238 for five (Stirling 81, Mousley 63*) beat Yorkshire 207 (Lyth 69, Brathwaite 3-32) by 31 runs
Yorkshire should keep away from defeat towards Leicestershire at Grace Road on Sunday to beat them to a quarter-final berth within the Blast after producing what absolutely ranked as their most slipshod bowling efficiency of the season within the face of a domineering Birmingham Bears at Headingley. They might end something from second to fifth.
Birmingham, confirmed as North Group winners, will take their place within the final eight with a house tie and because the type staff within the nation. Their 238 for five was the very best complete ever made towards Yorkshire in T20 cricket, the fourth-highest rating of this season’s event and the third-highest ever conceded on this floor.
It was one other flat Headingley pitch, however not as flat because the seam bowling efficiency from a Yorkshire aspect which lacked conviction when the strain was at its highest. For a county determined for an uplifting show throughout a season of turmoil, it was a significant disappointment, even permitting for the truth that this at all times had the makings of a slug fest – the 2 sides have now shared 12 totals of greater than 200 this season.
This was a fatalistic Yorkshire seam bowling efficiency, not helped by some fielding blemishes on an outfield dampened by rain that had delayed the beginning for 35 minutes. Too typically, the physique language was poor; there have been too many shakes of heads and palms on hips. If brains had been working additional time to formulate a plan, it was troublesome to establish what it was.
Matthew Revis, who didn’t think about himself as a bowler a yr or so in the past, as but doesn’t have a lot nous to fall again on. Thompson is attempting so as to add variation to his sport and has a Hundred contract to stay up for with London Spirit. Most disappointing was Waite, 26 now, however not often offering indications of creating right into a pondering bowler.
Yorkshire mustered solely three profitable overs in Birmingham’s innings. One got here late on from Thompson. The first two belonged to the legspinner Shadab Khan, wickets in them each, Alex Davies top-edging a sweep to brief third man and Sam Hain caught on the wicket as he laid again to chop.
Lyth formulated Yorkshire’s batting response. Finn Allen strikes at an astounding 201 runs per 100 balls however has but to achieve 50 and Harry Brook, coming in at no 6 with no time to undergo the gears, was not finest used. Lyth may need fallen to a relay catch at deep sq. leg on 47 when Benjamin flicked the ball again, however the alternative was not taken by the assist fielder. Jake Lintott’s over went for 20 in consequence, Lyth stepping effectively outdoors off stump to each supply to focus on the brief boundary and Lintott having no reply.
Bean isn’t beneath contract with Yorkshire, having initially left the membership in 2020. “He left their pathway system at 18, went into the leagues and did well and came back in to help out,” mentioned Tom Smith, Yorkshire’s 2nd XI coach. “It is vital for everyone to know that, no matter what your situation is, the door is never closed.” Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Darren Gough, is dedicated to giving alternative to late builders and Bean would possibly effectively be a working example.
David Hopps writes on county cricket for ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps