Notts seize the initiative as Clarke eases into form
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE built on a handy first-innings lead to put themselves in a strong position after day two of their Lv=insurance County Championship match against Warwickshire.
Joe Clarke, who made a century in each innings when these sides last met in 2019, looked in ominous form and both he and Haseeb Hameed posted half-centuries as they built on a 72-run advantage to stretch Nottinghamshire’s lead to exactly 200 at stumps.
Earlier, Warwickshire confirmed that England opener Dom Sibley suffered a small fracture to the second finger of his right hand when he put down a catch at first slip on Thursday and in his absence they were all out for 201.
Stuart Broad and debutant overseas player Dane Paterson finished with three wickets each, while leftarm spinner Liam Patterson-white followed his fine unbeaten 73 on the opening day with the pivotal wicket of Sam Hain for 72.
Hain’s eight boundaries included a couple of wristy leg-side fours off Paterson and two punched handsomely through the off side off Zak Chappell and his stand with nightwatchman Danny Briggs added 83 for the fourth wicket after Will Rhodes had edged behind from Broad’s second ball of the morning.
Briggs was reprieved by a no ball when caught and bowled by Paterson
on 19, dropped at first slip in the same over and then by wicketkeeper Tom Moores off Steven Mullaney on 28, but ran out of luck three balls after lunch as Broad pinned him in front working to leg.
It was the England fast bowler’s 150th first-class wicket for Nottinghamshire, Moores having made Rhodes his 100th first-class dismissal.
Bowling changes brought the next two wickets.
Matt Lamb edged a drive to second slip as Lyndon James struck with his first ball before the introduction of Patterson-white paid the biggest dividend as Hain - stepping forward to defend - was hit on the front pad to depart for 72 off 142 deliveries.
Michael Burgess and Tim Bresnan dug in, adding 23 in 11 overs to reach tea at 199 for six. Paterson’s forbearance was rewarded with the last three Warwickshire wickets in the space of six deliveries, Bresnan ballooning a catch to gully off the shoulder to give the South African seamer his first Nottinghamshire wicket before Burgess (36) and Olly Hannon-dalby both went leg before wicket.
Nottinghamshire opener Ben Slater fell cheaply to England’s Olly Stone for the second time in the match as the home side began their second innings.
But Hameed’s 52-run stand with Ben Duckett for the second wicket, which ended when Rhodes trapped Duckett in front for 25, gave Clarke a platform and he reeled off eight boundaries in reaching 50 off 67 balls.