Alex Gidman emphasised the importance of Riki Wessels “smart” and “calculated” innings in Worcestershire Rapids nine wicket win over Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston in the Vitality Blast.
Moeen struck an unbeaten 85 off 46 balls but Wessels proved to be the perfect foil in making 65 not out from 51 deliveries.
More often than not, Wessels himself puts opposition attacks to the sword in white ball cricket with his superb hitting.
But on this occasion he was almost content to play second foil to Moeen, knocking the ball around into the gaps in between the boundaries.
The unbroken stand of 138 was the highest for any wicket by either county in matches between the Rapids and the Bears in T20 cricket.
First Team Coach Gidman said: “I thought it was a quality innings. Sometimes Riki bullies the opposition. I thought today was a real smart innings.
“He was quite calculated. He recognised some of the boundaries suited Mo as the left hander more and he was quite happy to give him the strike and just make sure he was there at the end.
“It was the sort of innings we don’t see that often from Riki because it is not always needed.
“But it was brilliant and, without that kind of anchor the other end, Mo can’t really do that he did.”
