T20 Blast 2022 | Paul Stirling's sensational ton helps Warwickshire Bears thump Northants

Another thunderous knock from veteran Irish opener Paul Stirling has helped Warwickshire Bears maul Northamptonshire Steelbacks by 125 runs in a 16-over-a-side rain-affected encounter on Thursday night.

Stirling gave a tough competition to the rain gods as sixes flowed like lock, stock and barrels from the champion opener's bat in Warwickshire's campaign opener.

The blistering right-handed batsman smashed as many as 10 sixes and 9 fours during his 51-ball 119 to help his side post a scarcely believable 207/3 in just 16 overs.

Batting first, Stirling lost his partner Jacob Bethel in just the 3rd over of the innings, followed by Alex Davies, but that did not deter him as he continued to hammer the Northants bowlers.

He smashed 33 off 18 in the power-play as the Bears posted 2/60. Stirling found an able accomplice in Sam Hain, and the duo went about painting the Edgbaston Cricket Ground with their glorious stroke-making on either side of the rain break.

Stirling and Hains added 170 runs for the 3rd wicket in just 11.4 overs, with the latter finishing with a 32-ball 66.

On the other hand, Stirling brought up his century on the 46th delivery of the innings and ended up with 119 (51).

In response, Northamptonshire were never really in the game as they kept losing consistent wickets to eventually get knocked over for a mere 81 in the 15th over.

It was a shambolic batting effort from Northamptonshire as only three batsmen- Chris Lynn (16 off 11), Saif Zaib (16 off 13), James Sales (11* off 9)- could manage two digit figures.

Left-arm orthodox Danny Briggs proved to be the wrecker-in-chief as he claimed three wickets for just 21 runs in 4 overs, as did left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott, who wiped out the tail to seal a 125-run win.

Brief Scores:

Warwickshire Bears 207/3 (16)

Paul Stirling 119 (51)

Sam Hain 66* (32)

Ben Sanderson 2/42 (4)

Northamptonshire Steelbacks 81/10 (14.2)

Chris Lynn 16 (11)

Saif Zaib 16 (13)

Danny Briggs 3/21 (4)

Jake Lintott 3/19 (3)

Match Result: Warwickshire won by 125 runs