April 2008 Archives

Warwickshire 103 for 4 (39 overs). Trott 14, Ambrose 0.

The ball is darting around out there in very poor light and Powell has just edged an outswinger to Nixon in Allenby's first over.

Powell out for 5 and, unless Trott builds an innings of substance, none of the Bears' top five will have made a half-century in this innings - a disappointing follow-up to the heroics of Northampton.

Warwickshire 96 for 3 (36 overs). Trott 6, Powell 1.

Westwood gets a good one from Du Preez that lifts and he fends it to New at third slip. Out for 39 (114 balls).

The light is poor and these two batsmen need to roll their sleeves up, get stuck in and dig deep as well applying as any other cliches that spring to mind to ensure the Bears don't get into a pickle.

Light permitting, 26 overs still remain tonight!

It was never in doubt that they would get back on and they are.

Warwickshire 89 for 2 (33 overs). Westwood 38, Trott 1.

After six balls back on, Westwood had just completed a single when a throw struck him a painful blow on a part of the anatomy variously described by members of the press as the head, groin, elbow and arm.

After treatment from the gallant Gerhard Mostert, Westwood is about to resume.

Too dark. Covers still on. It'll be a surprise if they get back on today.

They aim to resume at 4.30pm, although there are plenty of nasty, glowering clouds around.

Just what is the point of lettuce? It's tasteless, not particularly nourishing and just gets in the way.

"Another heavy shah," as the posh people say. They are off again, Warwickshire 88 for 2 (30.5 overs), Westwood 37, Trott 1.

They have resumed.

Warwickshire 81 for 2 (28 overs). Westwood 31, Trott 0.

The word on the street is that 350 would be a good score here on a pitch likely to turn later on.

Westwood has just offered no stroke to a delivery from Kruger.

RAIN (pleuvoir, that is) STOPS PLAY
Warwickshire 74 for 2 (24.4 overs). Westwood 25, Trott 0.

Bell, on 42, is batting beautifully when he misses a leg-side delivery from Kruger and is astonished to see umpire Pasty Harris award an lbw decision. It looked like it was missing leg stump, big-style.

The batsman stalks off in high dudgeon and, to compound his angst, the players then leave the field seven balls later due to rain.

Whatever 'dudgeon' is.

Warwickshire 63 for 1 (21 overs). Westwood 18, Bell 42.

Batting has not been easy against a swinging ball in indifferent light. Good, focused batting by the two Bears products, however, and Bell is starting to play some classy shots.

Controversy arrived when Bell ran a three which should clearly have been four as Du Preez stepped on the rope when retrieving the ball. If Bell goes on to make 501, thereby only equalling rather than breaking Lara's record for an innings by a Warwickshire player, there will be a hell of a stink.

The sun is out. The sky is blue.
But there are 43 clouds to spoil the view.

Lunch was taken as scheduled at 1pm and, with the sun shining, it's looking good for a resumption at 1.40pm (no announcement has been made).

The one concern: Three blokes treading on a towel in the centre of the square adjacent to the strip on which the match is being played, as if there is a particularly damp patch there.