Worcestershire all-rounder Matthew Waite went berserk against Warwickshire to hand his side a 55-run win in rain-curtailed 17 overs per side T20 Blast 2024 encounter on July 12. Waite hit former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer George Garton from 34 runs in the final over of the innings. Later, he bagged a four-wicket haul including crucial scalps of Sam Hain and Moeen Ali to lead his side to their fourth win of the tournament.
After Worcestershire skipper Adam Hose won the toss and opted to bat first, Kashif Ali's 30-ball 46 helped them off to a good start. Ali struck twice and Worcestershire found themselves struggling at 96/5 in the 11th over. But Ethan Brookes and Nathan Smith's cameos helped them recover. Waite came in to bat in the penultimate over. After two singles, Waite took on Garton in the final over.
The final over mayhem
The left-arm pacer pitched one right in the slot and Waite smashed it over long-on for a six. He came round the wicket on the next ball and dragged the length back but Wait hit him for a boundary as the ball landed just inside the ropes. He followed up with a short ball and Waite pulled it over leg side boundary for a maximum.
On the fourth ball, Garton came over the wicket. Waite stayed still and whacked the length ball for another maximum over deep mid-wicket. On the fifth ball, he took the pace off the ball. Waite could not time it well and his right hand came off the bat but the ball still travelled over the boundary ropes. On the last ball, Garton bowled it shorter. Waite stayed on back foot and hit it over fine leg fence for a six to finish the innings. The right-handed batter's unbeaten eight-ball 36 took Worcestershire's score to 187/6.
Waite does damage with ball too
Warwickshire's run chase got off to a poor start with both openers departing for a duck each. Waite struck early as well as he knocked over Hain. From 18/3, Warwickshire recovered. Dan Mousley and Ali shared a 54-run partnership. Waite returned to bowl and dismissed Ali as well. Mousley got to his half-century but ran out of partners. In the 16th over, Waite got Garton and Jake Lintott's wicket off consecutive deliveries to bowl the opposition out for 132.
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Worcestershire barely alive in T20 Blast
Despite the loss, Warwickshire are on the top of the North Group points table with eight wins from 11 games. On the other end, Worcestershire have kept their hopes barely alive with fourth win from eight games.
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