The Bears captain was delighted with how his side completed their five session win over Gloucestershire
Jeetan Patel admits he “couldn’t have asked for much more from the players” in Warwickshire’s innings-and-47 run win over Gloucestershire earlier this week.
The Bears totally outplayed their opponents to complete victory in just over five sessions and stretch their lead at the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two.
To bowl the opposition out for 120 and then get ahead of them for no wickets is perfect.
Jeetan Patel
With five games left, starting against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay next week, Warwickshire are strongly-placed.
They still have plenty of work to do, with Sussex, Kent and Leicestershire in hot pursuit of the two promotion places – but captain Patel is delighted to be heading into the home straight on the back of an outstanding performance.
“I couldn’t have asked for much more from the players,” he said. “The plan on the second morning was to bat through the day and get some big hundreds and really push on. That didn’t happen because Gloucestershire bowled really well in conducive conditions but it was an outstanding effort from Will Rhodes to get his third hundred and a career-best.
“Then the bowlers just took control. I asked them to show a sense of calmness and patience and they provided that. Keith Barker and Ryan Sidebottom started really well, followed up by Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chris Wright.
“Chris was amazing during the whole game but the other guys supported him superbly. For us to take 20 wickets again was great and when you think we dropped a couple of catches that means we are creating more than just 20 chances.
“To bowl the opposition out for 120 and then get ahead of them for no wickets is perfect.”
Such a convincing win brought the players the additional bonus of two free days as they prepare to head into the hectic final weeks of the season.
“From next week there is a lot of cricket in a short space of time so it is nice for the guys to get a couple of days off,” Patel said.
“It was a great result but no-one will be getting ahead of themselves. For us it was just the end of the beginning – we have still got a lot to do.”
