The Eagles Nest - Rain Spoils Day 2 At Edgbaston

Rain Spoils Day 2 At Edgbaston

Twas Wet!

By Dave Buxton
April 25 2003
Rain ruined day 2 at Edgbaston, as just 10.1 overs were possible, with Warkwicks moving to 446-7. England prospect Jim Troughton moved onto 129 giving a hard chance to James Middlebrook in the play that there was, but the rain set in & despite four inspections, play was finally abandoned at 5:50pm.

WARWICKSHIRE VS ESSEX - Day 2 Report

COMPETITION: Frizzell County Championship, Division 1

DATE: Weds 23rd - Sat 26th April, 2003

Edgbaston, Birmingham

STATE OF PLAY: Warwickshire are 446 ahead with 3 first innings wickets in hand

Despite forecast of rain, the locals informed me that the weather was set fair with a possible chance of showers later on in the day. If only!

Play did start on time under grey skies, but with no apparent threat of rain. However, after just 40 minutes and 10.1 overs, the rain came along.

I say on time, there was a slight delay because of an apparent hole at the City End Problems there! exactly where left-armer Scott Brant would be landing during his follow-through. The groundsman came on to sort things out and play did start at just after 11:00pm.

In the time possible, Warwickshire added 35 more runs for the loss of no wickets, to move from their overnight 411-7 to 446-7. Dakin and Brant were the only bowlers to get a go.

Jim Troughton, under the watchful eye of David Graveney and Rod Marsh (who I did spot later in the day), continued to play delightfully, with a series of cuts and pulls that went to the boundary, with one particular pull off Scott Brant that sailed away to the boundary and was kept down beautifully.

He did, however, give a chance when on 125, when he upper-cut a short ball from Jon Dakin. The ball was in the air for a long time and James Middlebrook did well to sprint from the cover to point boundaries, but when he got there, although produced a brilliant dive to his right at full-stretch, when he hit the ground he lost grasp of the ball and it trickled over the rope for four.

That took Troughton to 129 not out and just 1 ball into the next over, the heavens opened. Mo Sheikh looked strong on the off-side with one excellent four and moved onto 28 not out himself and the partnership between the two for the 8th wicket to 60.

Early lunch was taken, but with the rain looking set for the day and the famous 'Brum Brella' now gone, prospects didn't look. It rained steady for around 3 hours, until around 3:00pm, where it began to ease off. The umpires announced an early tea at 3:40pm and that they'd look at 4:00pm with a view to play after that.

However, there was one area that was particularly wet still and despite three more inspections at 4:45pm, 5:15pm and then 5:50pm, play was finally abandoned for the day at 5:50pm.

So, the players will try again on Friday for day three, but with the forecast even worse than today, the match now looks destined for a draw.