Day two live blog: Warwickshire v Leicestershire

Keep up to date with day two from Edgbaston Stadium, as Warwickshire take on Leicestershire in the final fixture of the 2026 Rothesay County Championship.

2026-09-25T10:20+01:00

That's it for day two here at Edgbaston, with Warwickshire in a commanding position heading into day three where play will get under way at 10:30am.

You can catch up on what happened today by reading the report here, or read more from Sam Hain here. You can also watch the highlights from day two below. We'll see you tomorrow.

Hear from Sam Hain after he scored a brilliant 142 on day two at Edgbaston and also went past 1,000 runs for the Rothesay County Championship season.

6:05PM

Leicestershire 125 & 55-3 | Warwickshire 372

Bad light stops play, and that'll be it for the day.

It's been a brilliant day for Warwickshire, and especially for Sam Hain, who struck an outstanding 142 in Warwickshire's 372. Ed Barnard also played his part with a well-constructed 88.

Ethan Bamber then struck twice in the space of three balls after Leicestershire had made a fast start to their second innings, before Woakes add a third wicket of the innings after a short break due to bad light.

Warwickshire lead by 192 heading into day three, and are closing in on the Division One title.

5:56PM

Leicestershire 125 & 52-3 | Warwickshire 372

WICKET! Woakes with the wicket after the restart.

A nip-backer to Eskinazi, and he's trapped in front. Huge appeal and it's given. Leicestershire trail by 195. Warwickshire need 7 wickets.

5:47PM

Leicestershire 125 & 47-2 | Warwickshire 372

It's still gloomy at Edgbaston, but the umpires have called the players back out, and we're under way for the final overs of day two. Bamber continues for the Bears and it's a probing over from the pavilion end.

5:20PM

Leicestershire 125 & 42-2 | Warwickshire 372

Bad light stops play at Edgbaston.

It's quite gloomy here in Birmingham, but with play scheduled to go on until 6pm tonight, we'll have to wait to see if we get any more play tonight.

5:12PM

Leicestershire 125 & 39-2 | Warwickshire 372

Two in the over! What a ball that is from Bamber.

Angling in to the right-handed Patel, the ball just leaves him and knocks back off stump! How many times have we seen that this season? Brilliant from Bamber.

5:10PM

Leicestershire 125 & 39-1 | Warwickshire 372

Bamber strikes! That is plumb, and Warwickshire have the breakthrough.

Leicestershire have made a positive start, but it's a full, swinging delivery from around the wicket to Gumbs, and it wraps him on the pad in front of all three.

4:50PM

Leicestershire 125 & 2-0 | Warwickshire 372

The players are back out, and Ethan Bamber has the new ball in his hand. It's a great first over. First ball whistles past the outside edge. Second ball swings in to the left handed Gumbs, he plays no shot and it just misses off stump. Third ball, an edge all along the ground to fourth slip. Gumbs and Budinger then both get off the mark with singles tucked into the leg side, before a half-appeal for LBW is turned down off the final ball of the over.

There's a lot happening out there. It'll be Woakes to start from the city end.

4:29PM End of innings

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 372ao

Sam Hain's superb innings comes to an end and so does the Warwickshire innings, as they're bowled out for 372 with a first innings lead of 247. Crucially, they have three batting points.

Hain was dismissed on 142 from 301 balls. What an knock! He came to the crease with the score on 22, and he's helped to put Warwickshire in a fantastic position.

3:58PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 352-9

A third batting point secured for the Bears as they go past 350, and it's that man Sam Hain that gets them there. The field comes up for the last ball of Ajaz Patel's latest over, and Hain steps down the track and goes up and over mid-off for four. Hain has moved on to 128*.

3:42PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 337-9

Bamber goes. After playing a late cut for four off the spin of Ajaz Patel earlier in the over, he's bowled by an absolute beauty from the left-armer. Sharp turn and it clips the off stump.

3:40PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 333-8

The players are back out after tea, with Hain and Bamber looking to continue building the Bears' heathly lead here. After five dot balls in the first over after the interval, Sam Hain plays one of the shots of the day - and he's played a few! A textbook cover drive all along the ground for four.

3:17PM Tea

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 329-8

What a session from the Bears as they walk off for tea. It was particularly special for Sam Hain, who went to his second hundred of the season and past 1,000 runs in this year's County Championship. Here's a few photos from the moment he went to his 100.

Warwickshire's lead is now 204 ahead of the final session of day two.

Photo 1/2

3:00PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 308-7

Wicket! Manav Suthar's cameo comes to an end. It's a good, swinging delivery from Josh Hull, who traps Suthar in front of all three. He goes for 19 from 18 balls.

Ethan Bamber joins Hain at the crease now.

2:52PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 300-7

HUNDRED UP! Sam Hain moves to his second century of the season with a quick two following a mis-field. Another fabulous innings from a fabulous player.

That also secures another bonus points for the Bears, which has a huge impact on the title race.

2:48PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 292-7

Suthar has made a couple of nice strokes since coming to the crease, while Hain continues to diligently go about his business. He strikes one through the offside for one and moves to 98.

While typing this, Suthar hooks one over fine leg's head for six. Nicely done.

2:30PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 278-7

WICKET! Chris Woakes lasts only two balls as he departs for one. The all-rounder loops one up to Ian Holland at mid-on off the bowling of Ben Green. Bears are 278-7 and Manav Suthar joins Hain at the crease.

2:26PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 276-6

WICKET! Kai Smith departs for 18 from 25 balls, with Josh Hull taking a sharp catch off his own bowling to dismiss the Bears' wicketkeeper.

2:24PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 276-5

Sam Hain works one through the covers and a quick two takes him over 1,000 runs for the season. Like a fine wine.

1:58PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 252-5

WICKET! Barnard falls on 88. The Bears' skipper plays at a wide one and edges it behind, with Cox taking a smart diving catch to his right. Kai Smith joins Hain at the crease with the Bears 252-5.

1:34PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 230-4

Prior to play starting at Edgbaston this week, Warwickshire needed 14 points from this match against Leicestershire to guarantee the Rothesay County Championship title. That number is now 13. Somerset, Warwickshire's closest challengers, have failed to get maximum bowling points in their game against Surrey.

A win, or a draw with five extra bonus points, would be enough for the Bears to win the title. Three of those bonus points came yesterday, with Warwickshire bowling the Foxes out for 125. The first Bears batting point will come if they reach 250 runs today inside the first 110 overs of their first innings. The second should they reach 300 inside that amount of overs..

1:17PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 200-4

The 200 comes up for Warwickshire in the 73rd over. Hain is 69 unbeaten, with Barnard moving onto 63. The lead is now 75.

12:59PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 186-4

The 100 partnership comes up between Ed Barnard and Sam Hain off 199 deliveries. Hain gets there with a tuck off his legs down to fine leg.

What a crucial partnership it has been. With the Bears reduced to 86-4 at one stage yesterday, the duo have been outstanding against some testing bowling, extending the lead to 61.

12:52PM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 184-4

We're back under way after an early lunch was taken due to bad light. The clouds have lifted at Edgbaston, there's a bit of blue sky around, and we're set for two fascinating sessions.

Hain and Barnard are at the crease looking to continue building Warwickshire's first innings lead...

12:04PM - Lunch taken early

With the players off the field due to bad light, lunch will be taken early at 12:10PM, with over lost today. The remaining overs will made up in the final session of the day.

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 181-4

11:38AM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 181-4

Bad light has stopped play at Edgbaston.

11:32AM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 175-4

50 for the skipper! A brilliant, and important knock from Ed Barnard who reaches 50 from 97 balls. He's looked in good order since coming to the crease yesterday evening, and alongside Hain, they've extended the Bears' first innings advantage to 50.

There's been some turn for Ajaz Patel and plenty of swing for the seamers this morning, but Barnard and Hain have moved the score on in the first hour of play on day two.

11:02AM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 151-4

The 150 comes up for Warwickshire in the 55th over. Having been 87-4 at one point yesterday afternoon, Barnard and Hain's partnership is now worth 64 and has put the Bears in position to build a good first innings lead.

10:56AM

Leicestershire 125ao | Warwickshire 148-4

Hain brings up yet another half century for the Club, doing so with a cut that goes backward of square and races to the boundary. Hain's 50 comes from 123 balls and includes three fours.

It's the first time Hain has 10 scores of 50+ in a County Championship season.

Hain and Barnard have looked in good touch this morning so far, and have extended the Bears' lead to 23.

10:33AM

We are under way on day two at Edgbaston. The sun was out about an hour ago, but cloud has now covered the ground, and there's a bit of movement for Ben Green who bowls a maiden to start the day.

Welcome to day two of Warwickshire's final Rothesay County Championship fixture of the season against Leicestershire.

It's a huge week for the Bears as they look to secure a ninth County Championship title in the Club's proud history, and a first in five years.

Heading into day two, the Bears lead by five runs on 130-4 after they had earlier impressed to bowl out Leicestershire for 125. Ethan Bamber and Chris Woakes were the standouts with the ball, taking seven wickets between them.

Leicestershire battled back with the ball though, however Sam Hain (37*) and Ed Barnard (25*) will be looking to extend the Bears' advantage early on day two.

If you missed it, you can watch the highlights from day one below.