Warwickshire underline title-chasing credentials with win over fellow challengers Essex
Warwickshire 242 (Rhodes 63, Hasan 53*, Bracewell 4-51) and 100 for six (Rhodes 29, Barnard 23*) beat Essex 126 (Westley 47, Hannon-Dalby 4-21, 4-28) and 215 (Harmer 50*, Hasan 4-48, Rushworth 4-62) by 4 wickets
Warwickshire underlined their LV=Insurance County Championship title-chasing credentials by finishing a four-wicket win over fellow challengers Essex inside three days at Edgbaston.
The story of seam-bowling dominance continued into the third day as Essex have been bowled out of their second innings for 215. Chris Rushworth exploited useful overhead situations to complete with 4 for 62 (8 for 90 within the match) whereas Hasan Ali took 4 for 48.
That left a victory goal of 100 and, as batting remained removed from easy, Warwickshire needed to work arduous to get there, reaching 100 for six from 27.2 overs.
The expertise of Rushworth and Hasan, ably supported within the seam division by Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Ed Barnard, have been the decisive consider a fast-moving match which yielded a outcome on the third day regardless of the lack of 41 overs to the climate on the primary two.
A primary defeat of the season got here as a jolt for Essex after their spectacular show within the draw in opposition to champions Surrey final week.
Warwickshire’s third win in 5 video games continued a robust begin that has far exceeded expectations after they averted relegation by the pores and skin of their enamel final September.
After Essex resumed on the third morning on 86 for 4, nonetheless trailing by 30, in a single day pair Matt Critchley and Michael Pepper took their aspect in entrance however neither lasted for much longer as three wickets fell in 15 balls. Critchley edged Hasan to Rob Yates at first slip and Rushworth pinned Pepper lbw and had Doug Bracewell brilliantly caught by Sam Hain at second slip.
Simon Harmer, who scored an unbeaten fifty, and Shane Snater (31) attacked successfully to make sure they’d at the very least have one thing to bowl at, however the relentless seam workforce saved nagging away. Snater was snared lbw by Hannon-Dalby, and Hasan had Sam Cook caught at lengthy leg and Jamie Porter taken at slip.
Chasing 100 in a minimal of 73 overs, Warwickshire had loads of time however Alex Davies sought to do the job shortly and fell lbw to Cook when he missed an try to ship the ball into the River Rea.
Batting remained awkward as Essex’s seamers confirmed their expertise. Yates edged Porter into the cordon and when Bracewell produced two very good away-cutters to take away Hain and Will Rhodes in three balls, it was 65 for 4 and Essex had a glimmer of hope.
Dan Mousley and Barnard added an essential 21 and, although the dismissal of Mousley and Michael Burgess in successive overs had just a few house nerves jangling at 91 for six, Barnard steered his workforce house with 23 not out from 28 balls.