Essex’s bowlers dominated the opening day of their Vitality County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, bowling the hosts out for a paltry 78 and taking a commanding lead of 111.
Shane Snater led the Essex attack with a devastating spell of 5 for 13, while Jamie Porter and Sam Cook also chipped in with three wickets apiece. Warwickshire’s only resistance came from Will Rhodes, who scored 29 in his final home appearance before joining Durham.
In reply, Essex stumbled to 50 for 5 but recovered to close on 189 for 9 thanks to contributions from Michael Pepper (37), Snater (33 not out), Matt Critchley (32), and Simon Harmer (31). Ed Barnard and Craig Miles took three wickets each for Warwickshire, but Essex’s lead looks decisive.
Essex’s victory would be their second emphatic win in a row, while Warwickshire’s supporters are left to digest a disappointing end to a lackluster home championship campaign.
Porter and Olly Hannon-Dalby started the day as the country’s joint leading wicket-takers on 46, and Porter quickly moved to 48 by removing Warwickshire’s openers. Sam Hain was also trapped lbw by Cook, leaving Warwickshire reeling at 18 for 3.
Hamza Shaikh showed some resistance with a 37-ball eight, but Snater struck twice in quick succession to remove him and Barnard. Rhodes provided some hope with a gritty 29, but he eventually edged a delivery from Snater to Pepper.
The last ball of the morning saw Cook knock out Michael Burgess’s middle stump, and the innings imploded after lunch, with Snater wrapping it up with an lbw decision against Hannon-Dalby.
Essex’s reply began poorly, with Robin Das and Tom Westley falling cheaply. Barnard then struck twice in three balls to leave Essex at 50 for 5. However, the lower order batted patiently, with Critchley and Pepper adding 55 in 18 overs.
Critchley and Pepper eventually fell, but Harmer and Snater added a valuable 39. Miles removed Harmer and Cook in quick succession, but Snater’s cameo, including three successive fours off Miles, lifted Essex’s lead over 100.
