Champions Warwickshire enjoyed a strong first day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match with Essex after the visitors’ decision to bat first backfired at Edgbaston. Essex chose to bat on a good-looking pitch but were bowled out for 168 as only Tom Westley (80, 176 balls, 11 fours) showed the requisite patience against an accurate home attack. Warwickshire’s batsmen were then made to work hard in reply but they reached the close on 76 for two with Dom Sibley unbeaten on 33 (79 balls).

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