Natwest T20 Blast Final: Birmingham Bears crowned champions, despite Andrew Flintoff's best efforts
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff starred in a closely contested Natwest T20 Blast final, but his Lancashire went down by 4 runs to Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The 36-year-old got the Red Roses back into the game with his twin sixes in the penultimate over of the chase. The right-hander batting at No.9 remained unbeaten on 20 from 8 deliveries after accounting for Ian Bell’s dismissal earlier in the day.
Choosing to bat, the Bears scored 181 in their 20 overs, courtesy, a 63-run stand between half centurion Laurie Evans and Chris Woakes. Evans made 53 from 30 deliveries, while Woakes contributed with 22 towards the home side’s total before claiming 2 for 34 in his 4 overs with the ball.
The day marked the 5th anniversary of Flintoff’s retirement from Test cricket, but on the day he was outshone by young and rising all-rounder Woakes, who bowled the final over of the match with Lancashire needing 14 runs to win. The side from central England emerged victorious shutting down the expectations of a match-winning knock from the former Ashes hero.
"I thought we had it in the bag and then 'Freddie' (Flintoff) hits a couple and all of a sudden it's game on again. Credit to Woakes, he did exceptionally well and it's just amazing to get it over the line. It was a complete rollercoaster of emotions.
"We've done really well and come on as a side massively in the last two to three years, so to get across the line here on our home ground is incredible," said the Warwickshire side coach Dougie Brown.
Coming into the side as a replacement for the injured pacer Kabir Ali, Flintoff made an impact straightaway in his very first delivery of the match as Bell mistimed a lofted shot in the third over of the innings. The final was only his third game of the tournament after he announced his comeback to competitive cricket earlier in the season.
Commenting on his senior’s performance, Woakes said: “He's still got it hasn't he? There was some good striking at the end there and it's just great to close it out. Your heart is going for the whole 20 overs."
James Anderson was carted to all parts of the ground and an impactful 52 runs were taken off his 4 overs that proved crucial in the end. Karl Brown’s 55 off 28 balls was not enough for his side who gave their opponents a run for the money before succumbing to defeat.
Speaking after the match, losing captain Paul Horton said Flintoff’s strikes raised hopes of a comeback win.
"It looked that way at one stage with Freddie whacking them out of the ground, but all credit to Warwickshire," he said.
Brief Scores
Birmingham Bears 181 (Laurie Evans 53, Tom Smith 2/30);
Lancashire 177 (Karl Brown 55, Oliver Hannon-Dalby 3/31)
Birmingham Bears won by 4 runs.