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Chopra sets up Bears for final-over victory

Varun Chopra led from the front as Birmingham claimed a six-wicket victory over Durham in their NatWest T20 Blast match at Edgbaston with five balls to spare.

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Chopra scored 51 from 50 balls as his side reached the target of 147 for the loss of four wickets, with Jonathon Webb and Shoaib Malik both contributing with 28 apiece.

Durham posted 146-7 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by home captain Chopra.

John Hastings recorded the visitors' highest score with 36 after coming in at No.8, with the top order faltering.

Calum MacLeod hung around for 26 balls for his knock of 27 before falling to Jeetan Patel (2-23) before Paul Collingwood (11) and Scott Borthwick (25) were dismissed in successive balls, the first run out by the bowler Boyd Rankin, who then had the latter caught by Chopra.

Ben Stokes was out first ball, bowled by Patel, before Hastings came to the crease to add some vital late runs with Gordon Muchall (15 not out), before Gareth Breese chipped in with nine from five deliveries at the death.

Birmingham's reply stuttered slightly with the loss of William Porterfield for 16 with the score on 23, but Chopra and Webb moved it on to 80 before the latter was caught by Borthwick off the bowling of Collingwood.

Malik and Chopra then built a solid partnership to set up victory, with Laurie Evans (21no) steering the Bears over the line in the final over.

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