Chris Woakes stars on Bears return
Chris Woakes scored a high-class unbeaten century as Warwickshire romped to a seven-wicket win over Leicestershire in the Second XI Championship at Kibworth.
Set a final-day target of 301, the Bears raced to 304 for three in just 60.3 overs.
England star Woakes, who bowled 11 overs in the match to continue his recovery from injury, finished unbeaten on 114 (96 balls, 17 fours, one six). He added an unbroken 150 in 124 balls with fellow Edgbaston academy graduate Aaron Thomason who made 51 not out (55 balls, seven fours).
They came together after the chase had been given a strong foundation by two more players to have come through the Bears’ player pathway: Nick Hammond (67, 129 balls, ten fours) and Matt Lamb (52, 73 balls, five fours).
The victory also owed plenty to the spin bowling of Josh Poysden who took eight wickets in the match. Warwickshire led by 26 on first innings after, in reply to the home side’s 202 (Poysden four for 40), they made 228 (Andy Umeed 51, 111 balls, eight fours).
In Leicestershire’s second innings, former Bears favourite Ateeq Javid struck 123 (193 balls, 12 fours, one six) and Poysden took four for 86 before skipper Javid declared on 326 for eight.
That set the Bears a stiff task but, led by Woakes, they made short work of it.