The Bear: Woakes delighted to see the Bears home in classic win over Sussex

Last week’s thrilling victory over Sussex will go down as one of the most thrilling Rothesay County Championship encounters in living memory. Here, The Bear’s Brian Halford takes a look at that incredible finale, along with the thoughts of the matchwinner, Chris Woakes.

2026-08-24T13:30+01:00

It was one last twist to an incredible, perpetually twisting plot that had delivered one of the great County Championship matches ever seen at Edgbaston.

On a sunlit Saturday evening, Warwickshire had reached 202 for eight to draw level with Sussex and ensure themselves a least a tie. Game over? Not quite.

This wonderful game still had more to give. Ethan Bamber, having helped Chris Woakes add a crucial 23, edged behind. To the crease strode number 11, Oliver Hannon-Dalby. In Warwickshire’s 144-year history there are not two more genuine and popular men to have played for the club than Woakes and Hannon-Dalby. In terms of the football clubs they support – Aston Villa and Halifax Town – there is a slight disparity in quality. In terms of quality as blokes – committed, grounded, humble and respectful – they are both from the very top drawer.

Now could they find one more run? The spectators, who had been transfixed for hours as this magnificent match built towards its conclusion, were loving.

The glorious, excruciating tension was to continue for a little while longer. Thirteen dot balls followed as Hannon-Dalby faced one then each batter played out a maiden against Sussex’s accurate attack, before Woakes finally slashed Jaydev Anudkat to the boundary. Cheers echoed around Edgbaston and Warwickshire’s title-bid remained very much on track.

“It was a great atmosphere,” said Woakes. “How difficult can it be so get one run? But on a surface which helped the bowlers and when they were bowling so well, it was tricky.

“I had every faith in Olly. For a number eleven, he has probably got the best defence around, as we saw. On a tricky surface he hardly missed the middle of the bat. The pressure was off a little but because the scores were tied and we couldn’t lose, but when you get so close you want to get over the line and win.

“I had full faith in Olly, I just didn’t know where my next run was going to come from with everyone round the bat. Their bowlers didn’t miss their lengths and bowled really well so in the end I had to try and manufacture something and luckily it came off.

"The chase was always going to be difficult – we don’t do things easily, to be honest! At one stage we were in a position where we could have probably cruised home a little bit easier than we did, but that's the game. Pressure builds and situations change. It was a wicket where batters struggled early on in their innings. But we got over the line and that's what matters. We were just pleased to get there because we had put in a hard shift for three days.”

It was a strong team performance of many excellent components. All the seamers contributed to a fine collective bowling effort while Michael Booth and Bamber added priceless first innings runs. Then Dan Mousley and Vansh Jani built a superb partnership under pressure before a late clatter left Woakes and Hannon-Dalby to apply the finishing touch.

Hannon-Dalby ended with one of the more momentous nought not outs in cricket history while Woakes was unbeaten on 23 (after 82 minutes of resistance) to add to his bowling match-figures of 28.5-9-79-6. His wicket tally would have been higher if he had not delivered several balls which did too much…it would have taken a Bradman, a Richards or a Hannon-Dalby to get an edge on them.

"I was pleased with the way I bowled,” he said. “I haven't really bowled with a red ball since the start of May so it was nice to come in and bowl well. It is always good to pick up wickets and, most importantly, big wickets - when you get their top order out it’s always a sweeter feeling.