Related Articles
Match 38 of the Vitality T20 Blast 2025 sees a crucial North Group clash between Birmingham Bears and Worcestershire Rapids at Edgbaston, Birmingham , on June 20th. With both teams desperate for points after recent losses, this match could play a decisive role in their playoff hopes.
The Bears suffered a dramatic loss to Notts Outlaws , scoring a strong 206 but failing to defend it due to an onslaught by George Munsey. Meanwhile, Worcestershire bounced back with a win over Durham , led by Ethan Brookes’ rapid half-century and Matthew Waite’s tight bowling.
This is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle between two sides eager to turn things around.
Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Birmingham Bears vs Worcestershire Rapids |
| Date | June 20, 2025 |
| Venue | Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham |
| Time | 11:30 PM IST |
| Competition | Vitality T20 Blast 2025 – North Group |
Team Previews
Birmingham Bears Preview
Birmingham Bears are coming off a heartbreak against Notts Outlaws, where they scored 206/6 but were chased down comfortably thanks to a blistering knock from George Munsey. The batting looked strong with Tom Latham (69), Dan Mousley (53), and Moeen Ali (34 off just 12 balls) delivering valuable contributions.
Their lineup is led by captain Alex Davies , who has been consistent in white-ball cricket. He’ll open with Latham , while Mousley and Sam Hain provide stability in the middle order. Hain has scored 196 runs at a strike rate of 160 , making him a key player.
In bowling, Hasan Ali leads the attack with experience and control. He has taken 11 wickets at an average of 16.90 , despite going wicketless in the last game. Danny Briggs and Jake Lintott offer spin support, while George Garton brings pace.
If the Bears can tighten their death bowling and get early breakthroughs, they should have enough firepower to challenge any side. Their head-to-head record also gives them confidence ahead of this encounter.
Worcestershire Rapids Preview
Worcestershire Rapids finally broke their losing streak with a solid win over Durham. Chasing 155, they got home comfortably thanks to Isaac Mohammed’s explosive 32 off 15 and Ethan Brookes’ rapid 51 off 24 , which gave the chase momentum.
Skipper Adam Hose remains their leading run-scorer this season with 241 runs , anchoring the innings effectively. His consistency makes him one of the most reliable batters in the team.
Middle-order batter Ben Dwarshuis contributes with both bat and ball, having scored 112 runs and taken 8 wickets so far. In bowling, Matthew Waite was the standout performer in the last game, taking 2 wickets for just 20 runs in his 4 overs. Jacob Duffy and Fateh Singh add variety and depth to the attack.
Despite their improved form, Worcestershire still struggle against Birmingham — having lost 4 of the last 5 games against the Bears. However, they showed promise in their last match and will aim to build on that momentum.
They need to ensure better partnerships and tighter bowling spells if they’re to challenge the top sides consistently.
Favourite Team to Win Today’s Match
| Favourite Team | Reason (100 words) |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Bears | Strong head-to-head record; powerful batting line-up featuring Tom Latham, Alex Davies, and Sam Hain. Bowlers like Hasan Ali and Danny Briggs offer wicket-taking potential. Worcestershire have struggled against Bears recently and lack consistency. While Rapids showed improvement in their last match, Bears look more balanced and dangerous when clicking as a unit. With better all-round depth and home advantage, Bears start as slight favorites to pick up crucial points in the North Group race. |
Fantasy Team XI (with Explanation)
| Player Name | Role | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethan Brookes (vc) | Batter / Bowler | Worcestershire | Explosive finisher; hit 51 off 24 in last match. |
| Sam Hain (c) | Batter / Captain | Birmingham Bears | Consistent middle-order batter; aggressive style and leadership role boosts fantasy value. |
| Dan Mousley | All-rounder | Birmingham Bears | Impact player with bat and ball; scored 53 and took 2 wickets in last game. |
| Adam Hose | Batter | Worcestershire | Anchor of the innings; rotates strike well and averages well over 30. |
| Isaac Mohammed | Batter | Worcestershire | Aggressive opener; excellent strike rate and ideal for late-innings acceleration. |
| Hasan Ali | Bowler | Birmingham Bears | Star pacer; takes early wickets and maintains pressure. |
| Tom Latham | Batter | Birmingham Bears | Dependable opener; contributes early stability and decent strike rate. |
| Matthew Waite | Bowler | Worcestershire | Economical bowler; took 2 wickets in opener and controls run flow. |
| Kashif Ali | Batter | Worcestershire | Solid middle-order presence; useful for strike rotation. |
| Jake Lintott | Bowler | Birmingham Bears | Smart spinner; breaks partnerships and keeps it tight. |
| Moeen Ali | All-rounder | Birmingham Bears | Valuable lower-order hitter; provides impact with bat and ball. |
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
- Captain : Sam Hain (WRW) – Game-changer with the bat; safe fantasy option.
- Vice-Captain : Ethan Brookes (WOR) – Explosive striker of the ball and high upside.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
- George Garton (WRW) – Struggled with both bat and ball recently.
- Jack White (WOR) – No impact in previous matches; minimal fantasy value.
Squads
Birmingham Bears Squad
- Alex Davies (c & wk)
- Tom Latham
- Dan Mousley
- Sam Hain
- Ed Barnard
- Kai Smith
- Moeen Ali
- George Garton
- Hasan Ali
- Danny Briggs
- Jake Lintott
Worcestershire Rapids Squad
- Adam Hose (c)
- Isaac Mohammed
- Jake Libby
- Kashif Ali
- Ethan Brookes
- Gareth Roderick (wk)
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Matthew Waite
- Tom Taylor
- Fateh Singh
- Jacob Duffy
Probable Playing XI
| Birmingham Bears | Worcestershire Rapids |
|---|---|
| Alex Davies (c & wk) | Isaac Mohammed |
| Tom Latham | Jake Libby |
| Dan Mousley | Kashif Ali |
| Sam Hain | Adam Hose (c) |
| Ed Barnard | Ethan Brookes |
| Kai Smith | Gareth Roderick (wk) |
| Moeen Ali | Ben Dwarshuis |
| George Garton | Matthew Waite |
| Hasan Ali | Tom Taylor |
| Danny Briggs | Fateh Singh |
| Jake Lintott | Jacob Duffy |
Pitch Report
- Venue : Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Average First Innings Score : ~147
- Highest Score : 216/3
- Nature of Pitch : Balanced surface; seamers get swing early, spinners come into play later. Batting becomes easier once set.
- Expected Target : 150–160 should be competitive.
- Fielding Advantage : Chasing teams benefit from true bounce and even pace under lights.
Toss Prediction
- Likely Outcome : Even chance for either side to win the toss.
- Decision : Bat first. Historical data shows teams batting first have won 18 of 27 T20 games here.
Winner Prediction
Birmingham Bears are our predicted winners of this Vitality T20 Blast 2025 encounter. They come into the match with historical dominance , a strong batting lineup , and the home advantage at Edgbaston.
Key players like Sam Hain, Tom Latham, and Dan Mousley have shown good form, and Hasan Ali and Danny Briggs offer balance and wicket-taking ability.
Worcestershire, although showing signs of improvement, still struggle against the Bears and lack depth in batting and bowling compared to their rivals.
Back Birmingham Bears to secure another win and climb up the North Group standings.
CricketPandith Match Prediction Package
Per Match Charges: 1000 Rs/Match
Monthly Package: 5000 Rs/Month (Unlimited Match)
All International/League Match Prediction Available
