Warwickshire Bears continued their impressive start to the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, securing their third consecutive victory in as many days, this time overcoming Sussex by a single wicket in a nail-biting finish. The Bears, who had already won two matches away from home during the week, triumphed despite a tense chase, showcasing their resilience and fighting spirit.
After dismissing Sussex for a below-par 173, Warwickshire looked to be cruising towards victory. However, a mid-innings collapse that saw them slump to 76 for 5, brought Sussex back into the contest. The Bears, who had seemingly wrapped up the match, then lost three quick wickets with the score on 149, setting the scene for a nerve-wracking finale. Ultimately, it was the last man, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who sealed the win with a nervy two runs, edging Jack Carson to secure a dramatic one-wicket victory.
Sussex, who managed just one win in last year's competition, struggled throughout the match and their chances of progressing from Group B are already looking slim. They were comprehensively outplayed by Warwickshire, but credit to their bowlers, who kept the pressure on the Bears until the very last over.
Warwickshire, having dismissed Sussex in a mere 35 overs, started their chase as favourites. However, Sussex struck early, removing Rob Yates in the third over. The Bears continued to lose wickets, with Ed Barnard and Hamza Shaikh both falling cheaply, leaving them at 27 for 3.
The Sussex bowlers continued to dominate, with former Sussex player Michael Burgess falling lbw to Fynn Hudson-Prentice for 11. Chris Benjamin was then bowled by Ari Karvelas for 12, leaving Warwickshire reeling at 5 down after just 19 overs.
A crucial partnership of 73 in 16 overs between Will Rhodes and Kai Smith turned the tide for Warwickshire. Rhodes, who had earlier announced his departure from the Bears, delivered a gutsy 60 from 102 balls, displaying the qualities that will be missed by the team. Smith played aggressively, scoring a quick-fire 44 at a run-a-ball.
But just when it seemed Warwickshire were in control, Smith mistimed a shot to mid-off, and Hudson-Prentice followed up with a double-wicket maiden, dismissing both Rhodes and Michael Booth. When Tazeem Ali became the ninth wicket to fall, Warwickshire still needed six runs to win. However, Jake Lintott and Hannon-Dalby held their nerve, seeing their side through a tense final over.
Warwickshire's decision to bowl first backfired initially as Sussex openers, Tom Clark and Tom Haines, put on a promising 70 runs in the first 10-over powerplay. However, Sussex then lost all ten wickets for just 72 runs in the next 25 overs, crumbling under pressure.
Neither Clark (32) nor Haines (38) could convert their starts, both falling lbw to Booth, who bowled with pace and accuracy. Booth, returning to the Warwickshire team along with Yates, proved to be the most threatening bowler, dismissing Clark with the final ball of his first over and Haines with the second ball of his third over. Oli Carter was then run out for 11, a turning point in the match.
Sussex failed to recover from this setback, with Hudson-Prentice, Danial Ibrahim, and John Simpson all failing to reach double figures. The promising Henry Rogers, however, managed an unbeaten 25, attempting to steer the tail end of the innings.
The victory strengthens Warwickshire's position in Group B, while Sussex face an uphill battle to progress to the knockout stages. The match was a testament to the unpredictability of limited-overs cricket, showcasing a thrilling finish that will be remembered by both players and fans alike.
