The Bears are in pole position to earn a first Division One title in five years, and a ninth in their history, with several key moments and matches pivotal in their fight to remain in contention.
While every wicket, every run, and every additional point has been crucial, here are six of the key results that have led Ed Barnard’s team to within touching distance of adding their names to the history books…
First win of the season
After drawing the opening game of the season against Surrey, the Bears fell to defeat in their next outing, going down by five wickets to Sussex. Barnard’s men then bounced back with a vital first win of the season, doing so by 41 runs over Essex at Edgbaston.
After the first innings, Warwickshire were 15 runs in arrears, but 91 from Beau Webster and crucial contributions from Keith Barker, Ethan Bamber and Nathan Gilchrist helped set Essex 206 for victory.
Barker then took 4-29, while Bamber and Webster picked up two wickets apiece as Essex were dismissed for 164, giving the Bears a first win of the campaign.
Draw against defending champions
Following the victory against Essex, the Bears travelled to Trent Bridge at the end of April to take on defending champions Notts. Across four hard-fought days, and while still early in the season, the team showed why they should be taken seriously in the title race.
Warwickshire were put into bat, and thanks to a brilliant 165 from Ed Barnard, and 50s down the order from Chris Woakes (64) and Michael Booth (70), reached 459 all out.
Booth (4-71) then took four wickets and Woakes (3-44) three, as Notts were dismissed for 279. With Warwickshire chasing a result across the last five sessions, they asked the hosts to follow on, and while Notts batted out the remaining overs on a flattening pitch, Warwickshire ended the week with 16 points to Notts’ 11.
Huge Yorkshire win
The Bears continued their good form at the beginning of May, with Yorkshire the visitors to Edgbaston. After trading low-scoring first innings totals, only five runs separated the sides, however Warwickshire didn’t make the same mistake twice.
In the second innings, they batted for 141 overs, recording their highest total of the season as they declared on 553 for six. Everyone in the order contributed, with Rob Yates (81), Dan Mousley (70), Ed Barnard (60) and Zen Malik (57) all making half centuries, while it was an outstanding, unbeaten 164 from Sam Hain that helped propel the total.
An inspired Ethan Bamber struck three times early as Yorkshire were reduced to 14 for 3 at the start of their second innings, and they never recovered. Bamber ended with four for 50, Olly Hannon-Dalby three for 33, and Jordan Thompson two for 31 as Yorkshire were hammed by 377 runs. It was Warwickshire’s second-highest ever Championship win by margin of runs.
White Rose draw
Two fixtures later, the two teams met again, and while the game against Yorkshire at Edgbaston ended up being one-sided, it was the White Rose that were chasing victory on the final day at Headingley. Importantly though, the Bears hung on for a draw.
After posting 469 in their first innings, Yorkshire then dismissed the Bears for 263 to take a 206-run lead into the second innings. Yorkshire then declared on 246 for six in their second, setting the Bears an unlikely 453 for victory from 110 overs.
A fantastic rearguard took the game right to wire. Sam Hain’s 218-ball vigil merited 69 runs, but more importantly took time out of the game. And that was the same throughout the team, with Ed Barnard (58 from 109 balls) and Beau Webster (49 from 85) the main contributors. A nervy ending saw the Bears hang on for a draw, eight wickets down on 333 runs.
One-wicket win
The Rothesay County Championship made way for the Vitality Blast and The Hundred during July and returned after a two-month break with the Bears in contention but facing a tricky test as Sussex travelled to Edgbaston.
It was another nail-biter at The People’s Home of Cricket. Sussex batted first, with Chris Woakes (4-36) and a four-over burst from Michael Booth (3-9) doing the damage as they were bowled out for 156. The Bears could only manage a five-run lead heading into the second innings though, and that was thanks largely to number nine Booth who struck an unbeaten 34 with the bat.
In their second innings, Sussex were bowled out for 207, setting Warwickshire 203 for victory where it was Chris Woakes to the rescue, as the experienced all-rounder held his nerve to get the Bears over the line, nine wickets down.
Half centuries from Dan Mousley (58) and Vansh Jani (62) had put Warwickshire in control at 149 for three, however that quickly became 156 for seven. With wickets falling around him, Woakes steered the side home, ending 23 not out to see the Bears to a vital win.
Bears win, rivals stumble
After back-to-back wins on the road, Warwickshire travelled to Essex looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the table. In third place, one point behind Notts and five behind Somerset, it was becoming a three-horse race the top.
Ethan Bamber’s six-wicket haul on day one helped Warwickshire bowl Essex out for 134, before Sam Hain’s crucial and match-altering unbeaten 88 for the Bears saw them to a 57-run first innings lead.
The Warwickshire bowling attack then starred again, this time with Manav Suthar doing the damage, taking five for 75, as the Bears were set 133 for victory.
Barnard’s side wasted little time, taking just 25 overs to reach the total, with a half century from Zen Malik (51) helping the team to an eight-wicket win on day two.
Crucially, Somerset were beaten by Yorkshire, and Notts went down by seven wickets against Sussex, opening the door as the Bears hit the summit of Division One going into the final week of the season.
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