Prior to the final six games, Warwickshire were in third place, level on points with second-placed Somerset and five behind defending champions Nottinghamshire. Having largely gone under the radar, with Notts the favourites to go back-to-back, the Bears were about to launch a devasting charge towards the title.
Match by match, here’s how it happened…
Warwickshire v Sussex (home) – 20 August
By the barest of margins, Warwickshire secured a vital win and 19 points against a strong Sussex side. In a fast-moving game, Warwickshire, batting second, led by just five-runs following the first innings after making 161 to Sussex’s 156.
When Sussex were bowled out for 207 in their second innings, the Bears needed 203 for victory. On day three, it came down to Chris Woakes and number 11 Olly Hannon-Dalby to see the home side over the line, nine wickets down. Woakes’ unbeaten 23 and Hannon-Dalby, who faced seven balls without scoring, got the Bears over the line by one wicket in a tense finale at Edgbaston.
Table update – Somerset closed the gap at the top to two points after easing to an eight-wicket win over Essex down in Taunton, while Notts remained top after winning by 145 runs against Surrey at The Oval. The Bears remained five points off top spot in third.
Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire (home) – 27 August
Two of the top three met at Edgbaston, looking to gain an advantage in the title race, however the highly anticipated clash was heavily impacted by rain. With only 142 overs bowled in the match, when the captains shook hands on day four, Notts had taken 13 points to Warwickshire’s ten.
Table update – Somerset’s fixture with Sussex was also rain-affected, resulting in a draw, with Somerset picking up 11 points. The Bears remained third, eight points behind Notts in first and four behind Somerset in second.
Warwickshire v Hampshire (away) – 2 September
The Bears kept pace at the top with a second win in three, as they hammered Hampshire by an innings and 129 runs in Southampton. Rob Yates’ 109 from 208 balls and 90 from Sam Hain helped Warwickshire to 398, before Ethan Bamber, Manav Suthar, Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chris Woakes all impressed with the ball, as Hampshire were dismissed for 115 and 154 respectively.
Table update – Despite the Bears’ dominant win that merited 22 points, Somerset earned 23 points thanks to an innings victory of their own. Notts were held to a draw by Leicestershire, as they took 15 points. Those results saw Somerset climb into first spot, four ahead of Notts in second, with the Bears one point further behind in third. Five points separated the top three.
Warwickshire v Glamorgan (away) – 8 September
Another win by an innings followed for Warwickshire, this time in Cardiff against Glamorgan. The hosts were dismissed for just 69 in the first innings, with Ethan Bamber continuing his outstanding form by taking five for 28, with Ed Barnard chipping in with three wickets. In reply, 50s from Will Young (60), Sam Hain (76) and Barnard (51) put the Bears in a commanding position as they posted 391 all out.
Barnard then ripped through the Glamorgan batting line up, taking five for 13 as they were dismissed for 65 and the Bears wrapped up proceedings inside two days.
Table update – Warwickshire, Somerset and Notts all won, with all three teams taking 22 points, meaning there was no change at the top with two games remaining. The title race was going down to the wire.
Warwickshire v Essex (away) – 15 September
A third trip on the road in a row saw the Bears travel to Essex, but the result remained the same. A Warwickshire win. This time by eight wickets, again inside two days as they turned up the heat on both Somerset and Notts. Bamber was again the pick of the bowlers for the Bears in the first innings, taking career best figures of six for 26 as Essex could only make 134.
In reply, a crucial, unbeaten 88 from Sam Hain helped Warwickshire to a 57-run first innings lead. Manav Suthar then spun the Bears into the box-seat, taking five for 75, leaving Warwickshire needing 133 for victory. A quick-fire 51 off 55 deliveries from Zen Malik saw the Bears reach their total prior to the close on day two.
While the Bears celebrated an early win, Notts and Somerset were under pressure against Sussex and Yorkshire respectively.
Table update – The penultimate week of the season was ultimately the one that saw the tables turn in the title race. Both Notts and Somerset fell to defeat, with the Bears’ two-day win seeing them climb to the summit for the first time. Warwickshire would be 11 points clear of Somerset and 14 ahead of Notts with one game remaining.
Warwickshire v Leicestershire (home) – 24 September
With a whole host of scenarios heading into the final week, for Ed Barnard and his team, the equation remained simple. Win at home against Leicestershire and be crowned champions. It would take just three days for Warwickshire to do just that.
Ethan Bamber (4/42), Chris Woakes (3/20), and Barnard (2/22) set it up with the ball, bowling Leicestershire out for 125 after the visitors had elected to bat first.
A faultless 142 from Sam Hain and 88 from Barnard eased the pressure of a huge final week, as Warwickshire made 372, before securing victory by an innings and 79 runs when Leicestershire were bowled out for 168 on day three.
On a magical Saturday at Edgbaston, Ethan Bamber fittingly struck the final blow of the season for the Bears, as they wrapped up a conclusive end to the campaign.
Table update – Warwickshire would end the season 20 points clear of Somerset, who finished second. After defeat in their final two fixtures, Notts ended the year fourth, with Sussex jumping above them on the final day.
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