Resolute Trott gives Bears hope on day of ‘swing and nip’
JONATHAN Trott, in his penultimate match at Edgbaston, held Warwickshire together with batting of high class on a truncated first day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Durham.
Warwickshire closed a day stripped of 12 overs by rain and bad light on 184 for six with Trott unbeaten on 67 (145 balls, ten fours) – a patient and skilful innings in testing batting conditions.
After early-morning rain and a wet outfield prevented play before lunch, batting was never easy, with moisture in the air under a canopy of thick cloud and with the floodlights on.
Those conditions were exploited by Durham’s seamers who were rotated at one end while, curiously, left-arm spinner Axar Patel was left to wheel away, spearing the ball in without looking particularly threatening, from the other.
Warwickshire were deeply indebted to Trott who reached the crease at 47 for two and stayed firm while middleorder partners came and went.
After taking up the option to bowl first, Durham struck with the 18th ball of the day when Dominic Sibley edged Chris Rushworth to third slip.
Will Rhodes and Ian Bell added 38 in 12 overs before Barry McCarthy came on from the Pavilion End and removed Bell lbw with his fifth ball.
Rhodes applied himself with customary diligence for 105 minutes to reach 36 (71 balls, three fours) then perished when he turned spinner Patel off the face of the bat to short leg.
McCarthy struck again when Sam Hain edged to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynton, a wicket which left Warwickshire uneasily perched on 100 for four at tea.
That became 114 for five when Tim Ambrose went back to a full-length ball from Rushworth which hit middle and off.
Trott reached his half-century (115 balls) with his ninth four, cut off a short delivery from Patel, in a partnership of 36 in 16 overs with Keith Barker before the latter fell to a fine catch at second slip by Alex Lees off Matt Salisbury.
Trott remained resolute though to ensure that the Division One leaders have power to add tomorrow as they seek a third successive win to keep the pressure on challengers Kent and Sussex in the promotion race.
Warwickshire first-team coach Jim Troughton said afterwards: “It was a tough day for batting. When we arrived at the ground in those conditions we pretty much knew we would be put in. The ball swung all day and there was a bit of nip and I think we acquitted ourselves well in those conditions.
“By no means are we in a commanding position but with 180 on the board and a bloke who is in and scoring runs, we now have to treat the rest of the innings with real care and challenge the guys who are still to bat to play a big part and get us to 250 or above.
“Trotty has played well against Durham this year. He did it in tricky conditions up north as well and he played very well again today. He played his role really well and if we can have him batting a considerable amount of time tomorrow then we can hopefully get a total from which we can put Durham under pressure.”