ZEN Malik admitted: ‘It doesn’t get better than that’ after Warwickshire completed the third biggest run-chase in their history.
The Bears recorded a sensational five-wicket County Championship victory over Worcestershire at Edgbaston.
Warwickshire had been second best for the first three days – but on the fourth, they chased down a target of 393, reaching 396 for five thanks to Malik’s 142, Beau Webster (100 not out), Dan Mousley (69) and Kai Smith (48 not out).
They delivered a remarkable recovery from 12-2 the previous evening.
Malik clinched a high-class career-best while Australian all-rounder Webster, in control from his first ball faced, was just as pivotal to the triumph.
It was a real heartbreaker for Worcestershire as a victory which would have galvanised their survival fight turned into a defeat which shunts them to the brink of Division Two.
Malik told the Bears’ official YouTube channel: “It feels really good, you can’t beat that.
“A hard three days of graft and then, winning it on day four and chasing down a pretty big total – it doesn’t really get much better.
“My maiden 100 was a great feeling, but this is a different.
“To win a game and to contribute is just the best feeling that you can have as a player. You always want to play a part in those situations.”
Twenty-three days earlier at Southampton, Worcestershire needed to take seven Hampshire wickets on the last day and took only one.
This time they needed to take eight and found just three. That inability to close out winning positions will almost certainly cost them their first division status.
Warwickshire resumed on the final morning on 55 for two and under clear skies, batting was at its easiest all game and Mousley and Malik applied themselves diligently to deny the visitors early impetus.
Mousley, recalled to the championship side due to Sam Hain’s paternity leave, reached 50 from 89 balls and a long overdue maiden championship century beckoned when he reverse-swept Bertie Foreman to short third man.
Malik carried on with immaculate concentration while Webster restrained his attacking instincts to launch another productive partnership.
When Malik struck Bertie Foreman for 10 in two balls to take the total halfway to the target, the home crowd’s thoughts started to turn towards an unlikely win.
Malik reached his second first-class century (156 balls) with a six over the well-peppered short Hollies-side boundary.
Webster followed to his half-century from 103 balls and Warwickshire went into tea on 267 for three, needing 126 from 35 overs.
Malik skied Ethan Brookes to long on, Ed Barnard edged Tom Taylor behind in the first over with the new ball, but Smith joined Webster to work the ball astutely around the big field to add an unbroken 84 in 11.2 overs.
The unlikeliest of victories ultimately arrived with 82 balls to spare, and Warwickshire’s exhilaration was as great as Worcestershire’s desolation.
• Additional reporting supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay
