ZEN Malik and Beau Webster powered Warwickshire Bears to a dominant 59-run T20 Blast derby win against rivals Worcestershire Rapids.
Malik fell just one run short of a century in a 46-ball knock while Webster hit 13 boundaries on his way to a half-century at Edgbaston.
The Bears closed on 224 all out at the end of their 20 overs and restricted Worcestershire to 165-7 in reply to exact revenge on their rivals following defeat at New Road last month.
Despite the victory, Warwickshire remain bottom of the T20 Blast Central and West Group standings but have a game in-hand on the teams above them.
The Rapids won the toss and decided to bowl as Bears opener Rob Yates (0) fell in the first over of the match.
However, Malik (99) and Webster (79) combined for a stunning 177-run second-wicket stand as the pair punished the Worcestershire attack.
Malik hit 11 fours and five sixes while Webster found the rope 10 times and hit three maximums in a 44-ball innings.
Opener Malik cruelly departed one run short of a maiden T20 century as Matthew Waite (2-50) broke up the partnership while Ben Allison ran out Webster.
Only Jordan Thompson (15) and Kai Smith (15) managed double figures from Warwickshire’s remaining batters with the Bears all out for 224.
However, Worcestershire struggled with the bat in reply as the Bears took wickets at regular intervals.
Webster (1-18) bowled opener Isaac Mohammed (18) before Richard Gleeson (2-42) accounted for Kashif Ali (22).
Thompson (1-21) then trapped Gareth Roderick (17) LBW while Usman Tariq (1-24) bowled Sikandar Raza (12) to leave the Rapids in trouble on 68-4 in the 10th over.
And Dan Mousley (1-20) accounted for Rapids captain Brett D’Oliveira (3) before Adam Hose (49) and Waite (39 not out) showed resistance with the bat.
Hose fell one run short of a half-century as Gleeson claimed his second scalp while Chris Woakes (1-39) took the wicket of Usama Mir (3) in the final over as the Bears secured a comfortable win.
