Paul Stirling led the Bears to win

Birmingham Bears opened their Vitality Blast season with a 125-run hammering of Northants Steelbacks at Edgbaston, with Paul Stirling smashing a sparkling debut century.

Stirling, an Ireland batsman, hit a career-best 119 from 51 balls, with nine fours and 10 sixes – including 34 in one over – to help the Bears reach 207 for 3 in a rain-shortened innings of 16 overs.

In a stand of 170 from 70 balls that brought the large Edgbaston crowd to its feet, Sam Hain, who hit an unbeaten 66 from 32 balls, ensured the bowlers had no relief at the other end.

The Steelbacks lurched to 20 for 3 from 20 balls, chasing a revised total of 207 in 16 overs, and there was no way back. Northants were bowled out for 81, with only three batsman reaching double figures, thanks to spinners Jake Lintott (3 for 19) and Danny Briggs (3 for 21).

Stirling hit his fourth ball for six for his new team when the Bears elected to bat, en route to 33 from 18 balls before the rain break. Hain made a scorching start, smashing his first ball over extra cover and having 12 from five as the rain came down.

The Steelbacks’ bowlers were only delayed by the rain, as the third-wicket pair collected a combined 142 runs in fours and sixes. Stirling blasted the first five balls of an over for six before slicing the sixth past slip for four, and James Sales took the brunt of the attack.

Stirling thundered to his third T20 ton, from 46 balls, and celebrated with a six which landed 20 rows back in the Hollies Stand before perishing to a catch at long off in the final over.

It was a bruising start to the Blast for the Steelbacks’ bowlers – just 23 of 96 balls they delivered were dots. Their batters then took a few bruises too as their reply floundered to 40 for 5 in seven overs. Northants needed their overseas debutant to emulate Stirling but Aussie ace Chris Lynn reached only 16 before lifting Henry Brookes to long leg.

Brookes had previously dismissed Ben Curran, and Jacob Bethell held Josh Cobb at deep mid-wicket magnificently. From the last 11 overs, the Steelbacks needed 16 runs per over and melted under the pressure.

“I’m not sure we could have checked off any more boxes,” Stirling remarked. “It just appeared to be my day, as well as Sam Hain’s. He’s such a classy player, and he made me look like the partnership’s huge bull. When things weren’t going so well on the other end, he was a huge assistance. We appeared to be a good match.”

The Steelbacks’ coach, John Sadler, said: “We didn’t execute well enough, no excuses, but we know how brilliant Paul is, and this was one of those nights for him. Sometimes all you have to do is tip your hat to a player and say, “Well done,” as Stirlo did tonight. Sam Hain also performed admirably, although we were not as excellent as we could have been.”