A sensational debut innings from Ventnor-raised Adam Hose lifted Birmingham Bears to a five-wicket NatWest T20 Blast victory over Lancashire Lightning at Edgbaston.
The Lightning amassed 174-8 mainly due to England and IPL star Jos Buttler, whose unbeaten 80 came off 43 balls and included six fours and two sixes.
But then Hose, making his debut after moving from Somerset on a three-year deal last week, smashed a dazzling, T20-best 76 from 43 balls with seven fours and five sixes to put his side on course for victory.
Chasing, Birmingham lost both openers in the first 14 balls, but Hose and Sam Hain (22) rallied with a stand of 51 in 34 balls. Hose and New Zealand international Grant Elliott had 50 on the board in the next 15 minutes though and the debutant celebrated with successive sixes off Steven Parry. The pair added 69 in 44 balls before Hose charged and missed at Parkinson and Buttler completed an easy stumping.
Lancashire fought hard to the end, but it came down to five from the last over and Elliott thumped McLaren over mid-off for four to seal the win to a huge roar from the big home crowd.
Hose spent his formative years playing cricket for Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and played for Hampshire’s junior age group sides before joining the MCC Young Cricketers, Somerset and now by transfer to Warwickshire.
The Lightning amassed 174-8 mainly due to England and IPL star Jos Buttler, whose unbeaten 80 came off 43 balls and included six fours and two sixes.
But then Hose, making his debut after moving from Somerset on a three-year deal last week, smashed a dazzling, T20-best 76 from 43 balls with seven fours and five sixes to put his side on course for victory.
Chasing, Birmingham lost both openers in the first 14 balls, but Hose and Sam Hain (22) rallied with a stand of 51 in 34 balls. Hose and New Zealand international Grant Elliott had 50 on the board in the next 15 minutes though and the debutant celebrated with successive sixes off Steven Parry. The pair added 69 in 44 balls before Hose charged and missed at Parkinson and Buttler completed an easy stumping.
Lancashire fought hard to the end, but it came down to five from the last over and Elliott thumped McLaren over mid-off for four to seal the win to a huge roar from the big home crowd.
Hose spent his formative years playing cricket for Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and played for Hampshire’s junior age group sides before joining the MCC Young Cricketers, Somerset and now by transfer to Warwickshire.
