Unseasonal weather and some strong Derbyshire resistance meant Warwickshire had to settle for a draw in their County Championship opener at Edgbaston
When a mixture of bad light, rain, and sleet brought Day 3 to a premature close at around 2:40pm, Warwickshire were in control. Oliver Hannon-Dalby continued his excellent form from the last two seasons by taking all five wickets, leaving Derbyshire in severe trouble at 71-5 with a lead of just 39 runs and a long tail almost exposed already.
But a crucial partnership between Matt Critchley (83) and Harvey Hosein (78) guided Derbyshire to parity. By the time Critchley was dismissed LBW by Liam Norwell after lunch, the visitors had accumulated a lead of 152 and a draw seemed safe.
It was a frustrating final day for the Warwickshire seamers, who for all their effort just could not find the required wickets until it was too late. It was arguably surprising that captain Will Rhodes did not hand the ball to left-arm spinner Danny Briggs until Derbyshire were eight wickets down. There appeared to be signs of deterioration in the pitch as well as clear turn being produced by Critchley, who earned two wickets with his leg breaks in Warwickshire’s innings.
It was a frustrating final day for the Warwickshire seamers
Warwickshire held the initiative for pretty much the entire first three days. On day 1, Norwell provided a dream start for the Bears as a double-wicket-maiden in the second over left Derbyshire 0-2. Soon afterwards, Leus du Plooy played on off of Hannon-Dalby to leave Derbyshire 7-3.
In bitterly cold conditions that appear to have hindered fielders across the county, Warwickshire’s slip fielding was excellent. The highlight was a stunning catch at third slip by Rob Yates to dismiss Wayne Madsen, which left Derbyshire on 50-4 at lunch on Day 1. Yates would take two more catches in the second innings in an impressive performance that included a fluent 40 in difficult conditions.
After finding themselves in such a perilous position so early on, Derbyshire supporters would not have been too aggrieved at a final total of 189. This was largely due to Critchley’s counterattacking 64, which included four consecutive boundaries off the bowling of Craig Miles. It seems safe to say that Derbyshire would be leaving Birmingham with eight fewer points without the 24-year-old’s 147 runs in the match.
Norwell’s opening spell in the first hour was truly sublime and warranted more than just the two wickets. His return to the attack in the afternoon session ended a 93-run partnership between Critchley and Luis Reece, and the 29-year-old fast bowler would end with highly impressive figures of 5 for 32 – the first five-fer of the English summer.
Sam Conners trapped Rhodes LBW in the first over of Warwickshire’s innings, but Yates and Dom Sibley ensured no further damage before close of play on Day 1. However, drizzle and dampness provided tricky batting conditions on Day 2, highlighted by England international Sibley’s struggles throughout his dogged innings of 29.
Lamb’s 54 was a continuation of his fine preseason form
Although difficult, conditions were by no means unplayable, as shown by Matt Lamb’s gritty half-century. A popular player among Warwickshire members, his score of 54 was a continuation of his fine preseason form. Both he and Tim Bresnan guided Warwickshire to 169-5 at the close of Day 2 on a rain affected day, having come together at 114-5.
By the time Reece’s excellent bowling was finally rewarded with the dismissal of Bresnan for 35 the following morning, the Bears trailed by just seven. They had acquired a lead of 17 by the time Lamb was brilliantly caught by Madsen off the bowling of Critchley, but a flurry of wickets thereafter saw Warwickshire bowled out for 221, providing a slender lead of 32.
Derbyshire perhaps blurred the lines between aggression and recklessness
Before Warwickshire had time to ponder their batting performance, Derbyshire had slashed their way back into trouble, finding themselves 17-3. From the very first ball it was clear that the message from the Derbyshire changing room had been to show aggression and positivity, but it they perhaps blurred the lines between aggression and recklessness.
On the second ball of Hannon-Dalby’s second over, Reece nicked behind trying to hit the Warwickshire bowler through mid-off for four. Anuj Dal had a swing at two deliveries before being dismissed LBW on his third for just four runs, and du Plooy was then out the same way for a golden duck.
Unfortunately for Warwickshire, no one could replicate such blistering spells on Day 4. Craig Miles was the most threatening bowler, and very much deserved his two wickets, but by the time Derbyshire were all out for 244 – with Hosein unbeaten on 78 – they had amassed a lead of 212 with bad weather imminent.
No one could replicate such blistering spells on Day 4
Warwickshire were just four overs into their innings when snow began to fall, and a draw was quickly called.
The sight of Bresnan throwing his cap to the ground in frustration at an edge dropping short of him at slip summed up Warwickshire’s feelings. While they could do nothing about the weather, this will certainly feel like eight points dropped. After failing to win last season from numerous commanding positions – most notably in draws against Northamptonshire and Glamorgan – the players will be disappointed that history repeated itself.
However, if they can get a confidence-boosting win under their belts, this could well be a successful season for the Bears. Norwell, Hannon-Dalby, Lamb, and Yates all showed their talent in a team with stiff competition for places. With international stars Olly Stone and Hanuma Vihari available, Warwickshire will fancy their chances at Nottingham this week.
What they said:
Warwickshire coach Mark Robinson:
On Day 4: ‘We needed that breakthrough early. They played and missed enough but we couldn’t quite back up enough good balls really, it’s the balls in between that cost us. Until just before lunch, we couldn’t get the scoring rate down which was disappointing.
‘There’s a couple of occasions where we could have been a bit more ruthless. After lunch on the first day, when we got level with them in the first innings, we could have extended the lead a bit this morning, but you also give the opposition credit as well.’
On Danny Briggs: ‘[It was] difficult for the captain because there was enough in the wicket all the time, it was unbelievably cold, that was probably the coldest day of all the days.
‘I think the captain had a good game, we just need our seamers to be a tad more consistent if I’m honest, especially that first hour and a half this morning.’
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