Cricket Prediction | WAR vs NOR | Vitality Blast Men 2025 | North Group | July 13 – Who Has the Edge Based on Current Form?

BEARS vs NOR Match Analysis

Birmingham hosts this electrifying North Group clash on Sunday, July 13, 2025. The match will begin in the evening under lights, promising a gripping T20 contest. With both teams coming off wins, expect high-intensity action at Edgbaston.

Birmingham Bears have found a good rhythm in recent matches, thanks to their experienced core and explosive middle order. With all-rounders like Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes providing stability and firepower, the Bears are a well-balanced unit.

After a powerful batting effort versus Derbyshire, Northamptonshire is soaring with confidence. The combination of veteran overseas names and young local prospects gives Northants the edge to challenge any opponent.

Birmingham Bears vs Northamptonshire Team Preview & Squads

Birmingham Bears

Alex Davies leads the side with composed aggression and sharp tactical awareness. As both skipper and wicketkeeper, he brings dual responsibility and energy to the field. The Bears’ recent success owes much to his timely contributions with the bat and steady captaincy.

WAR batting unit boasts firepower throughout, from seasoned campaigners like Moeen Ali and Sam Hain to rising stars like Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell. With the likes of Chris Benjamin and Ed Barnard in the lower order, they can go deep.

With WAR’s bowling unit, variety isn’t just a tactic—it’s an identity stamped on every over. With Hasan Ali and Chris Woakes offering pace and control, and Jake Lintott and Danny Briggs providing spin options, their bowling unit can adapt to various surfaces.

In their last outing, the Bears secured a convincing 23-run win over Worcestershire. Batting first, they posted 176, with Sam Hain anchoring the innings. Executing their strategy flawlessly, the bowlers held Worcestershire to just 153 in 19.3 overs.

Birmingham Bears Squad

Birmingham Bears Squad

Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, George Garton, Will Rhodes, Hasan Ali, Michael Rae, Alex Davies (C) (wk), Michael Burgess, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Sam Hain, Ed Barnard, Chris Rushworth, Danny Briggs, Liam Norwell, Craig Miles, Richard Gleeson, Aamer Jamal, Zen Malik, Kai Smith, Robert Yates, Dan Mousley, Jake Lintott, Jacob Bethell, Che Simmons, Chris Benjamin, Hamza Shaikh, Tazeem Ali, Michael Booth, Zakary Foulkes, Amir Khan, Theo Wylie

Northamptonshire

David Willey captains the side with an aggressive mindset and years of experience in white-ball cricket. Known for his clutch performances, he leads by example in all departments of the game. Under his guidance, Northants have played fearless, attacking cricket.

NOR batting lineup is stacked with powerful hitters, including Chris Lynn, Karun Nair, and Ravi Bopara. Their explosive top order is complemented by finishers like Josh Cobb and Matthew Breetzke. Their dynamic approach to the batting order keeps opposition bowlers guessing.

With bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal, David Willey, and Tom Taylor, Northants have a well-rounded bowling lineup. They also have depth in spin with Ashton Agar and Graeme White offering variety. Consistency has eluded them, but their talent shines through regardless.

A run-filled encounter saw NOR triumph over Derbyshire with a 13-run win. Posting a mammoth 237/4, their batting was in top gear with Chris Lynn and Matthew Breetzke shining. Derbyshire fought hard in the chase but fell short at 224/6.

Northamptonshire Squad

Northamptonshire Squad

Ravi Bopara, Karun Nair, Yuzvendra Chahal, George Bartlett, David Willey (C), Ashton Agar, Josh Cobb, Chris Lynn, Chris Tremain, Matthew Breetzke, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Luke Procter, Tom Taylor, Rob Keogh, Gareth Berg, Hassan Azad, Simon Kerrigan, Graeme White, Saif Zaib, Ben Sanderson, George Scrimshaw, Ollie Sale, Calvin Harrison, Lewis McManus (wk), Liam Guthrie, Sam Whiteman, Siddarth Kaul, Harry Conway, Lloyd Pope, Liam Patterson-White, Dominic Leech, Harry Gouldstone, Justin Broad, Gus Miller, Freddie Heldreich, Fateh Singh, James Sales, Jordan Buckingham, Tim Robinson, Arush Buchake, Aadi Sharma, Raphael Weatherall, Krish Patel, Tiaan Louw

BEARS vs NOR Outfield Report

Edgbaston, Birmingham

The Edgbaston surface generally favors balanced cricket. There’s early movement for seamers under lights, but as the game progresses, it becomes a good batting track. Spinners can also come into play in the middle overs with some grip on offer.

Mostly clear skies are expected, accompanied by temperatures around 23°C in the evening. Early swing could come into play thanks to the moisture in the air, especially in the first innings. No rain interruptions are forecast, which is good news for both teams.

At Edgbaston, teams batting first generally aim for a score above 175 to feel safe. The highest T20 score on this ground has crossed the 220-mark, while teams failing to reach 140 have often struggled to defend. Chasing under lights is doable but requires smart pacing of the innings.

Birmingham Bears vs Northamptonshire Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In the last five encounters between the two sides, Birmingham Bears have had the upper hand, winning 3 matches compared to Northants’ 2. However, Northants have won the most recent clash, making this upcoming fixture even more enticing.

BEARS vs NOR Prediction

According to cricket analysts Birmingham Bears have a 53% chance of Winning.