Warwickshire win by 8 wickets

• 29/04/2010
• Match Reports

Warwickshire completed an eight wicket victory over Hampshire to record their frst win of the season in the LV=County Championship

More photos here

After winning the toss and batting, two early wickets for Neil Carter gave Warwickshire the perfect start as Hampshire went to lunch on 86-4 and after the interval the dangerous Michael Carberry was brilliantly caught by a diving Ian Westwood to remove a thorn in their side.
Pothas and Ervine held the Bears’ attack up before tea, until a superb slip catch by Clarke, removed Pothas and despite an Ervine half-century, the Hampshire innings closed on 283.
By the close of the opening day the Bears were 45-1.
An early loss of Darren Maddy initiated a major collapse in the Bears’ usually reliable batting line-up on the second morning, as they collapsed before lunch to 98-7. But Ambrose and Woakes kept the Hampshire attack at bay with a half-century partnership, before Carter joined Woakes and together the ninth wicket pair posted a century stand. Warwickshire went to tea on 274-8 and despite losing Carter, Chris Woakes took charge, completing the second century of his career and with last man Imran Tahir added one hundred and three for the last wicket, leaving Warwickshire with a first innings lead of ninety nine.
Hampshire then lost five wickets in the third morning session against a spell of accurate and fiery bowling from Neil Carter and Chris Woakes and with a lead of just five runs, the anticipated rain arrived and continued steadily with no further play possible in the day.
With rain threatening throughout the final morning session, Warwickshire set about wrapping up the Hampshire innings, needing five more wickets before the elements turned against them.
Woakes and Carter struck early but Ervine, as in the first innings, proved to be difficult to displace, and despite losing Tomlinson and Briggs, he remained unbeaten when the rain finally arrived at twelve thirty.
Lunch was taken early and despite a couple of attempts to get play underway in the second session, only three balls were possible before the rain returned.
Play finally resumed after tea and Carter collected his fifth wicket setting the Bears a target of 78 runs for victory.
With rain continuing to be a risk, Carter and Maddy laid into the opening attack but the rain returned, and the players came off the field again.
The heavy shower soon passed and Westwood and Bell wasted no time in ensuring a Bears’ first victory of the season in the LV=CC by 8 wickets.