23-08-2020, 10:56
Bob Willis Trophy, Central Group
Morning: A bright and breezy late-summer Saturday at New Road, and after winning the toss, Worcs put Warwickshire in to bat. Even at the time it looked a questionable decision, and despite the early wicket of Rob Yates edging to first slip for 2 after being squared up by Charlie Morris, there was barely a hint of another chance all morning as the Bears cruised comfortably to 68-1 at lunch.
Afternoon: And the carefree batting simply continued all through the second session. Both Will Rhodes and Sam Hain brought up their half-centuries over the course of the afternoon as Warks went in for tea on 155-1.
Evening: Some reward at last when Sam Hain flicked a legside delivery from Ed Barnard and was caught behind for 55. In the very next over, Joe Leach got the big wicket of Ian Bell, caught at backward point for 1 off his sixth ball, but there was no opening of the floodgates after that. The Pears did well to keep Warks on a leash and restrict the scoring with some accurate, economical bowling, but the visitors still closed on a strong 228-3, and Worcestershire will have to be deadly with the new ball in the morning to have any hope of retaining a winning chance in this match.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley