WARWICKSHIRE CCC pulled off the third-biggest run chase in their history to claim a remarkable five-wicket win against rivals Worcestershire.
The Bears successfully chased down a target of 393 as Zen Malik and Beau Webster both scored sublime centuries at Edgbaston.
Worcestershire had the better of the first three days of the County Championship Division One fixture.
The Pears posted 333 all out in their first innings and then bowled out Warwickshire for just 184 in reply.
The visitors extended their lead after reaching 243 all out in their second innings.
And Ethan Brookes top scored for the Pears in both innings. He also hit 15 sixes across the two innings – a record for an individual player at Edgbaston.
He surpassed the 12 sixes scored by Ian Botham for Somerset in 1985 and Dean Jones for Australia in 1989.
The Bears went into the final day on 55-2 only for Malik and Webster to guide the hosts to an unlikely victory with five wickets to spare.
The result leaves Worcestershire rooted to the bottom of the table while Warwickshire sit fourth in the County Championship standings.
Brookes stars with bat
Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat as Adam Hose (40) and Brett D’Oliveira (57) combined for a 59-run fourth-wicket stand.
The Bears restricted the visitors to 196-6 only for Brookes (140) to hit 11 fours and eight sixes which helped propel the Pears to 333 all out.
And Warwickshire made a disastrous start in reply as Rob Yates (0) fell for an eight-ball duck.
Fellow opener Alex Davies (0) also fell for a 25-ball duck before Dan Mousley (4) departed to leave the Bears in trouble on 11-3.
And Malik (12) could only help Warwickshire reach 26-4 as Khurram Shahzad (6-42) ripped through the home side’s top order.
Half-centuries from Webster (57) and Kai Smith (68) boosted Warwickshire’s total only for Adam Finch (3-40) to take crucial wickets with the Bears all out for 187.
However, Brookes (87) starred again with the bat in Worcestershire’s second innings as he smashed another seven sixes.
Opener Gareth Roderick (50) made a useful half-century as Webster (3-39) and Corey Rocchiccioli (3-49) helped restrict the Pears to 243 all out.
Malik ton inspires Bears to victory
Worcestershire appeared on the brink of victory after the Bears lost openers Yates (8) and Davies (3) inside the first four overs of their reply.
Warwickshire closed day three on 55-2 in pursuit of 393 with the Pears in need of eight wickets to secure a much-needed victory.
However, Malik (142) and Mousley (69) combined for a 114-run third-wicket stand.
Malik and Webster (100 not out) then produced a 160-run fourth-wicket partnership to turn the game in the home side’s favour.
And Kai Smith (48 not out) also scored quick runs to help the Bears to an unlikely victory with 82 balls and five wickets to spare.
Warwickshire are next in action against Essex on Tuesday, July 29 with the game to begin at 11am at the County Ground in Chelmsford.
