Warwickshire: 284 & 256-3, Essex: 295 & 244. Warwickshire win by 7 wickets (Warwickshire 21 points, Essex 5 points)

Another remarkable final day effort saw Warwickshire defy the odds for the second week in succession to secure a sensational seven-wicket win over Essex in the County Championship. It was fitting that the University of Birmingham’s very own Rob Yates scored the winning runs with eight balls to spare after a magnificent 120 not out.

At the end of day 3, seamer Craig Miles told Redbrick that, irrespective of the outcome, the fact that Warwickshire were competing so well with Essex illustrated ‘how far we’ve come.’

Having pulled off such a special victory against the reigning champions, who had not lost a red-ball game since April 2019 (a run spanning 21 matches), Miles’ words perfectly encapsulate the upward trajectory of the team with each passing day.

Against this trophy-laden Essex attack, Warwickshire had their work cut out

Essex began day 4 on 213 with a lead of 224, eventually setting Warwickshire a target of 256 from 82 overs. Since star bowler Simon Harmer joined Essex in 2017, the highest successful chase against them was a target of just two runs, achieved by Surrey. Against any other team, the equation would have seemed very achievable, but against this trophy-laden Essex attack, Warwickshire had their work cut out.

Instead, Yates produced the greatest innings of his career so far. Aided by Hanuma Vihari (52) and Sam Hain (60), he guided Warwickshire to a famous win, their first in red-ball cricket at Edgbaston in eight attempts.

Having lost the toss, Warwickshire did brilliantly on day 1 to dismiss the champions for 295. Miles bowled excellently to dismiss Sir Alastair Cook – who had uncharacteristically smashed 46 from just 47 deliveries – and captain Tom Westley in the morning session. However, it was England’s Olly Stone who impressed the most, his frightening pace and bounce earning four much-deserved wickets as Essex collapsed from 186-3.

When Warwickshire found themselves 193-8 with their number nine and ten at the crease in the evening session of day 2, it looked like this would be in vain. Matt Lamb was unfortunate not to make his third fifty in three games after being clean bowled for 47 by an unplayable delivery from ex-Australian international Peter Siddle, and Hain had scored an elegant 36 before being bowled by Harmer.

But Miles and Danny Briggs added 66 together, and when Oliver Hannon-Dalby was the last man to be dismissed, Briggs had reached 66 and Warwickshire had clawed their way back into the game to post 284 early on day 3.

This left Essex with fourteen overs to bat before lunch. A stunning passage of play followed, as they lost four wickets to find themselves 23-4.

On the final ball before lunch, Paul Walter edged behind off Hannon-Dalby to leave Essex in real trouble

After Cook miscued a cut shot to Yates at point off of Hannon-Dalby’s bowling, captain Will Rhodes then produced a mesmerising diving catch at midwicket to dismiss Westley. This was Miles’ first wicket of four in the innings, with his second being Nick Browne who was trapped LBW in his next over. On the final ball before lunch, Paul Walter edged behind off Hannon-Dalby to leave Essex in real trouble, and their situation looked bleak at 36-5 after a controversial LBW decision saw Ryan ten Doeschate dismissed by Stone.

Warwickshire would surely have felt that they had squandered this great opportunity when Essex fought their way to 244 all out, largely due to 82 not out from Harmer.

Yet, following last week’s miracle chase of 333 on a difficult wicket, Mark Robinson’s side has finally found the resilience and winning instinct that has been lacking previously. Almost every game in last summer’s Bob Willis Trophy saw Warwickshire throw away strong positions and drop their heads. They could easily have folded on day 2 at 193-8 and been left to regret Hain dropping Browne on 20 before he went on to make 68 or rued some soft dismissals such as those of Hain and Michael Burgess. They would also have been disheartened at Essex’s recovery by the end of day 3.

Instead, this Bears team have come of age. When they were set 256 at more than three runs an over, it would have been easy to try and block it out for a draw. But the win at Trent Bridge has given this team ‘great belief’ as Yates said after the game. An early six from Rhodes before he was out for 11 showed that this is not the old Warwickshire, and that this team means business.

Yates played a wide range of gorgeous shots off both the front and back foot

Yates in particular, despite having six runs in three innings prior to this, showed why he is so highly rated. Other than a bit of fortune not to be given out LBW, he rarely looked in danger against an Essex attack that has had so much success and silverware. He played a wide range of gorgeous shots off both the front and back foot to keep chipping away at the target. A straight drive down the ground to bring up three figures may have been the best shot of the innings.

The 21-year-old showed maturity way beyond his years throughout his innings, admitting to media post-match that the plan was just to ‘bat, bat, bat.’

‘I reckon we didn’t really think about knocking them off until we had about 30 left. Me and Hainy were then trying to plot a plan of how to do it without taking too long.’

After Warwickshire’s frustrating draw against Derbyshire, the feeling was that they would be very successful if they could find that elusive confidence-boosting win. They are now clear leaders at the top of this group. There is a very long way to go this season, but this win was a huge statement of intent.

And if the last two Sundays prove anything, it is that anything is possible with this Warwickshire team.

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