Ireland and Birmingham Bears batter Paul Stirling were at his best form, smashing 119 runs in 51 balls to open their T20 Blast campaign with a 125-run thumping of their opponents Northamptonshire Steelbacks. The veteran opener's innings included a brilliant 34 in one over as Stirling recorded his career-best score along with his third T20 hundred, including 10 sixes and nine fours as the Bears made 207-3 in a rain-reduced 16 overs.
Meanwhile, the Northants were unable to replicate their opponents' game and were bowled out for only 81 to fall to their heaviest T20 defeat, while the Bears picked up their biggest margin of victory.
Making his Bears debut on the night, Stirling picked up boundaries on a regular basis. His breakthrough came in the 13th over, when he faced 19-year-old medium-pacer James Sales, who was making his T20 debut. Stirling was one shot away from six sixes in an over but Sales was spared as the last ball was sliced through slip for four.
Sam Hain added 66 in 32 balls to set up a third-wicket stand of 170 with Stirling in just 11.4 overs.
Stirling's wicket eventually fell at the hands of right-arm pacer Ben Sanderson, but by then the latter had already done the damage.
Then while defending their massive total, spinner Danny Briggs took 3-21 from his four overs as Northants subsided miserably, even considering the extremely difficult chase they faced.
Only Sales (11 not out), Chris Lynn (16) and Saif Zaib (16) reached double figures for the Steelbacks.
