In a thrilling T20 Blast North Group match, Worcestershire Rapids‘ all-rounder Matthew Waite delivered a remarkable performance, smashing 34 runs in the final over to set up a convincing 55-run victory over the Birmingham Bears.

Mathew Waite’s all-round performance

Worcestershire, opting to bat first, posted a competitive total of 187 for 6 in their 20 overs. Kashif Ali got the innings off to a brisk start, scoring a quickfire 46 off 30 balls, while Waite provided the late fireworks with a blistering 34 runs in the final over. This late onslaught from Waite proved to be the difference-maker, as it boosted Worcestershire’s total significantly.

In response, Birmingham Bears struggled from the outset, losing both their openers without scoring. Dan Mousley‘s valiant 68 off 44 balls was the lone bright spot, as the rest of the Birmingham batting lineup failed to make an impact.

Here’s the video

MATTHEW WAITE HAS TAKEN 34 RUNS FROM THE FINAL OVER 😱 pic.twitter.com/LiGxLjCXyn

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) July 12, 2024

Worcestershire’s disciplined bowling, led by Waite’s impressive figures of 4 for 29, and Tom Taylor‘s tight spell, kept the Bears in check throughout the innings, eventually bowling them out for 132. Waite’s all-round heroics were the key to Worcestershire’s victory.

With a magnificent 34 off George Garton‘s final over, Matthew Waite put an end to it. Waite hit 36 not out off of eight balls. In his short span on the crease, he demolished Garton’s over with five sixes and a boundary. Not only did he contribute with the bat, but he also shone with the ball, taking four crucial wickets to derail the Birmingham chase. This performance follows his impressive outing in the previous game, where he had a remarkable spell of 4 for 29.

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Worcestershire keeping up hopes alive

The win keeps Worcestershire’s hopes alive for a spot in the knockout stage, while Birmingham, despite leading the table, will need to work hard to secure a home quarter-final berth after suffering their third defeat in 11 matches.

The match witnessed a mix of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and crucial breakthroughs, ultimately resulting in Worcestershire’s convincing victory over Birmingham. Waite’s heroics in the final over and his all-round performance were the standout features of the game, as he single-handedly turned the tide in Worcestershire’s favour.

This victory is a significant boo?st for Worcestershire, who will be looking to build on this momentum and secure a place in the Vitality Blast knockout stage. Meanwhile, Birmingham Bears will need to regroup and address the issues that led to this defeat, as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the North Group standings.

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West Indies star Carlos Brathwaite, who is leading Birmingham Bears in the ongoing T20 Blast 2022, was penalised for ‘reckless’ behaviour after being hit with five penalty runs for throwing the ball at Derbyshire‘s Wayne Madsen on Sunday.

The incident took place in the 13th over of Derbyshire’s chase at Edgbaston, when Madsen attempted to take a run but turned back quickly to return to his crease. Brathwaite, meanwhile, had picked up the ball in his follow-through and instinctively threw it at the stumps. But the white leather instead hit Madsen’s bat handle, with the ball deflecting away for an overthrow.

The Birmingham captain immediately raised his hand to issue an apology, indicating it was not intentional. However, Madsen was unimpressed as he gesticulated towards the squar?e-leg umpire to have a look into the matter.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, was spotted complaining to the standing umpire that his throw was just a reaction to Madsen stepping out of his crease, but the two umpires, after a consultation, overruled the Caribbean star’s appeal and awarded Derbyshire five extra runs in a 160-run chase that they eventually completed with 11 balls to spare.

Here is the video:

Not ideal for Carlos Brathwaite 😬

A 5-run penalty was given against the Bears after this incident…#Blast22 pic.twitter.com/pXZLGcEGYa

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 19, 2022

Brathwaite was ultimately penalised for a Level 2 offence under the MCC Laws regarding ‘Unfair Play’. Notably, Law 42.3.1 deals with occurrences of “throwing the ball at a player, umpire or another person in an inappropriate and dangerous manner”. Though, the same rule is not part of the playing conditions in international cricket and other franchise T20 tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“The umpires deemed Carlos Brathwaite’s throw reckless, which is what it was. I was in my crease, and he didn’t even look. I know it’s a competitive game, but if that had hit me on the back of the head like the umpires said, there is real trouble. Because I was back in my crease before he had even released the ball, it was a bit reckless,” Madsen told the ECB Reporters as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

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