Bears’ batsmen in form as fans return to Edgbaston
SPECTATORS returned to Edgbaston and Warwickshire’s batsmen gave them something to enjoy as the Bears made 315 for five on the first day of their two-day friendly with Worcestershire.
With almost 1,000 members watching from the stands as part of the programme to support the safe return of spectators to live sporting events, the Bears’ batsmen showed encouraging form five days ahead of the Bob Willis Trophy opener against Northamptonshire on Saturday.
On a good batting pitch, Worcestershire bowled well, and without luck at times, but the Bears’ top four all batted watchfully to get some muchneeded crease-time after months without match practice.
Will Rhodes (41, 82 balls) and Rob Yates (38 retired out, 85 balls) continued the good form they showed against Nottinghamshire in the previous game before Ian Bell (52, 92) balls) and Sam Hain (49 not out, 107 balls) batted for much of the afternoon session.
Michael Burgess then attacked in the final session for 57 (88 balls, 11 fours).
Rhodes and Yates added 71 in 24 overs before the former edged Dillon Pennington to wicketkeeper Ben Cox.
After Yates, having batted in assured fashion, retired out, Hain and Bell played diligently against some testing bowling led by Pennington, Jack Leach and Josh Tongue.
Bell reached his fifty from 86 balls just before tea while Hain was one short of his half-century at tea, at which point he retired out to enable some team-mates to have a bat.
Matt Lamb’s brisk 18 ended when he skied Brett D’oliviera to extra cover. Tim Bresnan moved swiftly to 28 then chopped Ross Whiteley’s second ball to point, but Burgess connected with some clean blows on his way to a 58-ball half-century with ten fours before lifting Ed Barnard to mid-on.
The persevering Pennington induced Alex Thomson to play on just before stumps as the Bears batted all day in prior agreement with Worcestershire who will bat for all the second day.