Rob Yates, Henry Brookes extend Bears' winning run

Birmingham Bears completed their buoyant Vitality Blast group campaign with a club record seventh successive victory, by eight runs over Durham at Edgbaston.

Already sure of finishing top, the Bears rounded off their group games with an 11th win out of 14 despite an untidy batting display which saw them bowled out for 141 in 19.4 overs. Only Rob Yates, with 53 off 42 balls, lasted long against accurate bowling led by Australian pair Ashton Turner (3 for 20) and Nathan Sowter (2 for 23).

Durham faced a moderate target but it was well beyond them as they mustered just 133 for 9, Henry Brookes taking 3 for 15. They finish one from bottom in the group and exit the tournament after a staccato campaign which included two ties and a no-result.

The Bears, meanwhile, remain on a roll as they prepare for Thursday evening's home quarter-final. Another satisfying day for them was clouded only by a worrying injury to standout performer Dan Mousley, who left the field after hurting a hand attempting to take a return catch from Turner.

After the Bears chose to bat, their top order misfired except for Yates, who has scored 286 runs in his last five Blast knocks.

Alex Davies blasted 19 from eight balls but then cut Turner to George Drissell at point. Drissell enjoyed an effective hour, adding another smart catch in the same position to remove the fit-again Sam Hain and bowling four overs of tidy offspin for just 23.

The Bears big-hitters have powered their side into the last eight but this wasn't their day as Chris Benjamin, Glenn Maxwell, Mousley and Jake Bethell each lasted fewer than ten balls. Yates completed a 38-ball fifty but then edged Turner behind and Dominic Drakes launched his Bears career with a golden duck when he slogged Sowter to long-on.

Brookes landed a couple in the crowd but when Ben Raine castled Jake Lintott, it was nine down and the spectators had the unusual T20 sight of a No. 11 blocking out the 18th over to keep the innings alive. It concluded in fittingly messy fashion when Olly Hannon-Halby embarked on a single, Brookes didn't and the former was run out by Alex Lees' throw.

Durham required a relatively modest run rate but appeared in a big hurry which cost them early wickets. Graham Clark skied Drakes to mid-off, Lees was bowled backing away to cut Mousley, Ollie Robinson played on to Brookes and Michael Jones swept Mousley to short fine leg. The Bears spinner delivered only two more balls before suffering his injury.

Brookes came on to complete the over, immediately removed Turner lbw and followed up with the wicket of Brydon Carse, caught by Yates at long-on. Liam Trevaskis hoiked Lintott to deep midwicket before the fall of Raine pretty much summed up the Blast campaigns of these two teams. Sub fielder Ethan Brookes brilliantly retrieved a hit inches inside the rope and the batters, instead of celebrating four runs, found themselves together in the middle of the pitch when Brookes' throw arrived.

Jonathan Bushnell biffed a T20-best 40 off 34 balls, but it was too little too late to rescue his team.