A regular performer in England's domestic scene since making his first-class debut against Pakistan in 2016, Adam Hose once again displayed extreme guile to guide the Birmingham Bears to an emphatic 144-run win over the Worcestershire Rapids in the T20 Blast at Edgbaston on Friday night.
The Bears racked up 228 runs for eight after Hose's unbeaten 110 off 53 balls as he set up a partnership of 91 from 53 balls between Hose alongside Dan Mousley, who bagged 53 runs in 34 runs himself. Hose smashed 13 fours and four sixes on the way to becoming the first Bears player to score two T20 Blast tons.
This was not the end of the Rapids' T20 campaign however as the side were bundled for a mere 84 runs. The Bears' best bowler was Danny Briggs, who scalped four for 25, while Jake Lintott picked up two wickets for 12 runs and Olly Stone got two for 17.
This victory takes the Bears to the brink of qualification for the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast. Meanwhile, the Rapids' dismal season went from bad to worse, with one win, one no result and 10 losses in 12 games so far.
The side, led by Moeen Ali, chose to bowl first. The Bears floundered initially, losing three for two. But Rob Yates greeted Moeen into the attack with successive fours before losing his wicket, as Hose and Mousley got the game back on track.
Both batters hit 30-ball half-centuries before Mousley was dismissed. It was the first of three wickets for Adam Finch, scalping Chris Benjamin and then Carlos Brathwaite for a golden duck.
Hose kept the runs flowing whenever on strike, and reached his ton in 51 balls in the second last over of the game, celebrating with a four and a six from the next two balls that he faced.
Chasing such a big total was no easy feat as the Rapids tried to get close from the get-go but failed miserably. They lost openers Ed Pollock and Brett D'Oliveira in the first seven deliveries, and then Moeen was soon sent back for just four runs.
