Warwickshire County Cricket Club Head Coach, Ian Westwood, says belief is growing in the Bears camp after their dominant 377-run victory at home to Yorkshire.
The Bears responded in emphatic fashion to being bowled out for 147 on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship fixture at Edgbaston Stadium this week, by scoring 553 in their second innings to set up the chance of victory.
Westwood’s team were able to capitalise on the mammoth lead they had built, declaring at tea on day three before removing five Yorkshire batsmen by the close of play on Sunday.
The Bears returned on Monday to take the final five Yorkshire wickets for a comprehensive victory, and a result that sees Warwickshire move from fourth place to second place in the Rothesay County Championship table, with the gap to league leaders Nottinghamshire cut to just six points.
“It was an interesting game, and I thought the lads managed it really well,” he said.
“We were put in (to bat) under really challenging conditions, but we knew that if we bowled well, they would find it equally tough, and we did that. Then to come back as strongly as we did and effectively bat them out of the game was impressive.
“All the batters, having been put under a lot of pressure this season, responded really well.”
Westwood singled out the contribution of batsman Sam Hain for his efforts in both innings.
The 30-year-old topped the scoring on a testing opening day in Birmingham with a gutsy 57 coming from 97 balls, before he compiled an unbeaten 164 in the second innings to set the platform for Warwickshire’s bowlers.
“Every partnership was 50 plus and that put us in a great position,” Westwood added. “It was a standout match for Sam Hain. His half-century in the first innings was worth a lot more, and then to bat through for 160 not out was an incredible effort from him.
“We’re not looking too far ahead but the group is growing in confidence and belief, and that is coming from the performances and the positions we have found ourselves in at times.
“You can see the belief is there to get back in the game and on top.”
Warwickshire will look to boost their Championship hopes further when they take on Glamorgan at Edgbaston Stadium this week, with play set to get under way at 11:00am on Friday 15 May.