September 2008 Archives

...that is, indeed, it for the day

Bad light has stopped play, I would imagine for the day.

Warwickshire 270 for 7 (86 overs). Ambrose 86, Carter 42.

The Bears well on course to add the accolade "Second Division champions with fewest wins" to their proudly-held "County Champions with fewest wins".

Warwickshire 259 for 7 (70 overs). Ambrose 83, Carter 35.

Carter has done a bit of damage to Shantry's figures and dealt capably with Croft. What a good lower-order batsman Carter has become. Still eager to brutalise anything loose but happy to defend when necessary.

Ambrose has barely played a false shot, though it's inevitable that some playing and missing will occur on a pitch with this much green. Shantry is still getting one or two past the bat.

300 would be a good score in these conditions.

Tea: Warwickshire 228 for 7 (64 overs). Ambrose 75, Carter 15. Leg-byes 5.

Ambrose has batted really well, becoming much more defensive in the last half-hour before tea when his team needed him, above all, to stay there.

Carter took the liberty of swinging Harrison over square leg for six as a reminder of what he is capable of.

It will be a suprise if they get all the overs in today as the light is not great and will probably go quite quickly when the sun sets.

Warwickshire 213 for 7 (62 overs). Ambrose 74, Carter 1.

Salisbury, on 11, goes back to a wrong 'un from Croft and cops the fifth lbw decision of the day. Rather impressively, Carter survives three balls of spin (to say the least, not his favourite type of bowling to receive) to see out the over.

Warwickshire 195 for 6 (58 overs). Ambrose 68, Salisbury 0.

Clarke declines to go forward to a near-yorker from Harrison and is lbw to Harrison for nought.

Warwickshire 191 for 5 (55 overs). Ambrose 64, Clarke 0.

After a partnership of 101 in 20 overs, Troughton, on 54, took a yorker from Harrison on the toe and was adjudged lbw by Jeremy Lloyds.

The same bowler then had a loud caught-behind shout against Ambrose, on 61, and all the close fielders went up but Ambrose was unmoved, so was the ump's crucial digit and the batsman struck the next ball handsomely through the covers.

Warwickshire 184 for 4 (50 overs). Troughton 53, Ambrose 58.

Ambrose reached a sparkling 50 from 45 balls with ten fours, posting the milestone with three boundaries in successive balls from Gillespie (all in different directions - point, square leg and long on).

Troughton followed to a steady 50 from 77 balls with six fours.

The pair have so far added 98 and look well set to challenge the Bears' fifth-wicket record against Glamorgan - 161 by KD Smith and GW Humpage at Edgbaston in 1976.

On September 24, 1959, Kenneth Williams had tea with his mum then went off to perform to great acclaim at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue,

Warwickshire 129 for 4 (42 overs). Troughton 30, Ambrose 27.

Glamorgan have bowled well but the sun is coming through strong now and batting conditions are easing.

Troughton has concentrated hard - just the one lavish cover-driven four so far. It appears that Ambrose's confidence is rebooted. He looks capable of taking Warwickshire a long way towards - or even beyond - the magical 350.

The great thing about Warwickshire supporters is they are always liable to come up with a suprising tale. Walking round the ground at lunchtime I never in the world expected to hear a recollection involving Bill Clinton, traffic cones and a hearse.

Warwickshire 92 for 4 (33 overs). Troughton 20, Ambrose 0.

Shantry is floating the ball up beautifully on a length and swings one in to Trott (37, 59 balls) who tries to whip it away to mid-wicket but misses and is adjudged lbw.

Having played the shot, the batsman turns back and grounds his bat as if to prepare for the next ball but then looks up to find the finger of doom aloft. I.J.Trott has a similar attitude towards lbws as that held by WG Grace. Not out. Not ever.

Shantry 3 for 21 in 10 overs.