Rewind: Warwickshire v Lancashire, 1986

Not too many rain-ruined draws take their place in County Championship history but Warwickshire's stalemate against Lancashire at Edgbaston in 1986 certainly did. The three-day match was shunted empha

matc

2022-06-11T05:00:00.000Z

Not too many rain-ruined draws take their place in County Championship history but Warwickshire's stalemate against Lancashire at Edgbaston in 1986 certainly did.

The three-day match was shunted emphatically up a cul-de-sac when rain washed out the second day - but the third brought a very special personal milestone. Dennis Amiss scored his 100th first class century, becoming only the 21st cricketer in history, and the first Warwickshire player, to achieve that incredible feat.

The opening day brought Lancashire dominance as the Bears, having chosen to bat, made only 138 with only Amiss (33) and Anton Ferreira (69 not out) reaching double figures against an attack led by Paul Allott (five for 55). By the close, the Red Rose were in total command on 183 for five with West Indies legend Clive Lloyd on 76.

Lloyd and Amiss went back a long way, having opposed each other many times for West Indies and England as well as Lancashire and Warwickshire. Their mutual respect was to manifest itself in a generous gesture from Lloyd which permitted that making of history on the final day.

On the second day, Monday, rain swept across Birmingham but it cleared on Tuesday when Lloyd completed his century (128) and Lancashire advanced to 293 for nine (Gladstone Small five for 85) before the declaration. The Bears then began their second innings on the final afternoon with the game dead as a dodo...but there was scope for Amiss to join the elite 100 100s club.

He went in at number four with the score 93 for two, soon collected the 17 runs he required to pass 30,000 in championship cricket and advanced towards that magical ton. He was still short of it, however, when the teams could have shaken hands on a draw but Lloyd agreed for his team to bowl the last 20 optional overs to allowed his old adversary time to get to the milestone.

Amiss duly finished on 101 not out (14 fours and a six). Yes, his 100th 100 arrived in benign circumstances, but he deserved one less taxing one...most of the preceding 99 were forged at the top level with great skill and courage at the likes of Edgbaston, Port-of-Spain, Lord's, Lahore, Liverpool, Georgetown and Derby.

*Dennis Amiss will be the special guest at a Q&A in the Tom Dollery Suite at Edgbaston during the lunch interval on the first day of the County Championship match vs Lancashire on Sunday June 12th.