Report: Warwickshire v Leeds/Bradford MCCU

Day Three

Adam Hose completed a double century to set-up a convincing 530-run victory for Warwickshire in the 2019 season curtain-raiser versus Leeds/Bradford MCCU.

Resuming on 119 overnight, Hose made his way to an unbeaten double hundred (169 balls, 19 fours and nine sixes) before retiring out with the Bears on 454 for seven.

Hose was well supported by Tom Milnes, who made an unbeaten 30, as the Bears added a further 10 runs before closing their second innings at lunch on 464 for nine with a lead of 632.

Milnes then struck twice in three balls in the second over of the Leeds/Bradford innings to leave them two for two.

The Berkswell seamer then took a third wicket in the 10th over by clean bowling Angus Dahl, for 14, before Craig Miles removed Saad Ashraf next ball.

Skipper Jeetan Patel and all-rounder Aaron Thomason struck further blows before heading in to Tea with Leeds/Bradford 86/6 and trailing by 550 runs.

Aaron Thomason struck soon after tea before skipper Patel added two further scalps and, with Shafiq absent hurt, the Bears wrapped up a 530-run victory.

Day Two

Aaron Thomason and Adam Hose led the way with a five-for and a century respectively as Warwickshire dominated the second day against Leeds/Bradford MCCU at Edgbaston.

Replying to the Bears’ first innings of 246, Leeds/Bradford were skittled all out for 78 before the Bears then advanced to 347 for six – 515 ahead – by the close. Hose was unbeaten on 119 (105 balls, four sixes, 12 fours)  after Will Rhodes struck a fluent 92 (104 balls, three sixes, eight fours).

After Leeds/Bradford resumed in the morning on 11 for one, they reached 43 without further loss then lost their last nine wickets for 35 runs. Thomason was the main destroyer, following up his opening-day half century with 5.4-2-6-5 as the last six wickets fell for six runs. The earlier breaches had been made by Ryan Sidebottom (6-2-15-2) and Craig Miles (9-3-15-2).

When the Bears went in again, opening pair Rhodes and Dom Sibley added 115 before Sibley (40, 61 balls, five fours, one six) was caught at deep cover. Liam Banks fell lbw for seven but Rhodes batted in accomplished fashion before he was bowled by the first ball of a new spell by left-arm spinner Josh Haynes.

After tea, Hose received solid support from Sam Hain (29, 77 balls) and Tim Ambrose (30, 61) as he accelerated towards three figures. The former Somerset player reached his century from 90 balls, the second 50 having come from just 33, and has power to add on the final morning.

Day One

An excellent eighth- wicket partnership of 109 from 155 balls between Aaron Thomason and Craig Miles helped Warwickshire reach a reasonable 246 all out on a weather affected day one.

Due to the overnight and early morning rain, the ground staff worked incredibly hard to get the game going at 1.15pm after Warwickshire won the toss and chose to bat.

In-form openers Will Rhodes and Dom Sibley put on 33  for 57 before Andrew Neal took three wickets in eight balls.

Rhodes was the first to go, inside edging onto the stumps for 18, with Liam Banks (LBW for four) and Sam Hain (ct Haynes for 0) joining him minutes later.

Wickets continued to fall in the dark, overcast conditions with Sibley bowled for 37 off 57 (seven fours) and Tim Ambrose and Tom Milnes both caught by wicket-keeper Joe Billings off the bowling of Steve Bullen for 12 and seven respectively.

But any expectation of a quick ending were quashed. Thomason, who would finish 62 not out (136 balls, 169 minutes), and Miles (48 off 84) put on 109 runs in 92 minutes, reaching 227 for eight before the latter was caught by Billings off the bowling of Josh Haynes.

Jeetan Patel (5) and Ryan Sidebottom (six) were the last two dismissals, leaving the Bears on 246 all out and 24 minutes remaining.

In their reply, Leeds/Bradford MCCU finished 11 for one off six overs with Miles removing Ben Pearson for four in the last ball of the third over.

Day two will start at 11am with 104 overs expected in the day if weather permits.

Entry is FREE with supporters asked to use the Tom Dollery Members’ Lounge.

Squad: Rhodes, Sibley, Banks, Hain, Hose, Ambrose, Thomason, Milnes, Miles, Patel (c), Sidebottom.