Jacob Bethell reached second-fastest half-century in 22 years history of English domestic T20 cricket as Birmingham Bears hammered Northants Steelbacks by 90 runs to move level with Lancashire Lightning 10 points at the top of the North Group.
Bethell's 56 from 16 balls at Edgbaston was the fastest ever by a Bears player - and also a ground record - but it was just one delivery too many to equal the South African's competition record Gerard Brophy with 14 balls for Yorkshire against Derbyshire in 2006. the competition, during the cross-Pennines derby with Yorkshire.
In the South Group, Surrey returns to the lead after inflicting a 13th consecutive home defeat in T20 against Middlesex - a streak which now stretches back over two years.
Leg-spinner Luke Hollman made it 5-16 for Middlesex to give them some hope, but Australian leader Sean Abbott responded with 5-18 for Surrey.
North Group - Brilliant Bethel inspires Bears
After the momentum at the start of the innings from Ed Barnard, with a T20 best 48, and skipper Al Davies (36) in an 80-run opening stand, Dan Mousley also weighed in with 43 from 29 balls before Bethell took over late to lift the Bears to a season-high 219-4.
His 16-ball knock - including seven sixes - was described by the BBC...
Jacob Bethell reached second-fastest half-century in 22 years history of English domestic T20 cricket as Birmingham Bears hammered Northants Steelbacks by 90 runs to move level with Lancashire Lightning 10 points at the top of the North Group.
Bethell's 56 from 16 balls at Edgbaston was the fastest ever by a Bears player - and also a ground record - but it was just one delivery too many to equal the South African's competition record Gerard Brophy with 14 balls for Yorkshire against Derbyshire in 2006. the competition, during the cross-Pennines derby with Yorkshire.
In the South Group, Surrey returns to the lead after inflicting a 13th consecutive home defeat in T20 against Middlesex - a streak which now stretches back over two years.
Leg-spinner Luke Hollman made it 5-16 for Middlesex to give them some hope, but Australian leader Sean Abbott responded with 5-18 for Surrey.
North Group - Brilliant Bethel inspires Bears
After the momentum at the start of the innings from Ed Barnard, with a T20 best 48, and skipper Al Davies (36) in an 80-run opening stand, Dan Mousley also weighed in with 43 from 29 balls before Bethell took over late to lift the Bears to a season-high 219-4.
His 16-ball knock - including seven sixes - was described by the BBC...
Jacob Bethell reached second-fastest half-century in 22 years history of English domestic T20 cricket as Birmingham Bears hammered Northants Steelbacks by 90 runs to move level with Lancashire Lightning 10 points at the top of the North Group.
