Varun Chopra and Ian Bell shine versus holders Yorkshire on cold and wet day
ByPA Sport
Published 26/04/2016 at 18:37 GMT
Varun Chopra struck a century and Ian Bell reminded the England selectors of his qualities as Warwickshire extinguished any hope champions Yorkshire had of pushing for an unlikely victory at Edgbaston, on a day when rain, hail and even snow caused havoc around the country in the Specsavers County Championship.
Varun Chopra's century frustrated Yorkshire
Image credit: PA Sport
Replying to the White Rose's first-innings 379 following Steven Patterson's career-best unbeaten 63, the Bears overcame the early loss of Ian Westwood to Jack Brooks courtesy of a 132-run second-wicket stand between Chopra and Bell.
Although Bell edged England spinner Adil Rashid to slip to depart for 59, Chopra completed a 169-delivery century the ball after tea.
The opener was unbeaten on 101 alongside Jonathan Trott, who hit 38 not out, when rain brought a premature end to the third day with Warwickshire on 205 for two, still 174 runs behind, meaning a draw is the most likely outcome in Birmingham.
Yorkshire suffered a blow during the morning session when Ryan Sidebottom limped off midway through his sixth over with an ankle problem, although they do have back-up in the form of England international David Willey if the veteran left-armer fails to make Sunday's clash with Nottinghamshire.
Marcus Trescothick rolled back the years with his 59th first-class century, but Somerset trail Surrey by 110 runs heading into an intriguing last day at the Oval following Ravi Rampaul's second successive five-wicket haul.
Former England opener Trescothick, who became Somerset's second highest run-scorer on day two, turned his overnight 68 into 127.
But Rampaul triggered a Somerset middle-order wobble and, despite a vital eighth-wicket stand of 78 between Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton that took their side past the follow-on mark, they were dismissed for 353 shortly before the weather struck.
Heavy flurries of snow and rain meant no play was possible between Durham, on 295 for four in reply to 389, and Middlesex at Chester-le-Street.
In Division Two, Jamie Porter bowled Essex into a match-winning position against Northamptonshire at Chelmsford on a remarkable day when 19 wickets fell.
After David Masters' first over of the campaign was a double wicket-maiden, Porter returned figures of 5-46 to dismiss Northants, once struggling on six for four, for 119 in response to the hosts' 441 for eight declared.
Adam Rossington made an unbeaten 67, one of only three players to reach double figures, before Porter took two more as Northants responded with 148 for four in their follow-on, still 174 runs behind.
The wet weather left Mark Cosgrove stranded on 99 following an unbroken stand of 159 with half-centurion Neil Dexter that led Leicestershire out of trouble from 15 for two to 174 for two in reply to Kent's 264 at Grace Road.
Gloucestershire, boosted by in-form Chris Dent's unbeaten 81, hold a lead of 186 over Worcestershire after dismissing the hosts for 411 and then reaching 217 for six in their second innings at Bristol.
Wayne Madsen fell three runs shy of a 20th first-class century for Derbyshire as they replied to Glamorgan's 377 with 331 for nine at Derby.
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