Liam Guthrie starred with the ball for Northamptonshire 2XI, taking five wickets as Northamptonshire and Warwickshire 2XI played out an entertaining, albeit rain-affected day at Edgbaston Community Sports Ground.

Resuming on 165/4 overnight, trailing by 22 and with Malik playing fluently on 66, Guthrie claimed the scalp of Dandy, feathering behind to Alex Corbett behind the stumps to leave Warwickshire 169/5.

With rain lingering throughout the morning in blustery conditions, the Northamptonshire seamers got to work and looked to limit Warwickshire to a small lead despite Malik’s resistance.

The number three looked imperious on the front and back foot, driving and cutting the bowlers as he moved serenely towards three figures whilst securing a first innings lead for his side.

However, when Miller removed Ali with a beauty that crashed into off stump, Warwickshire had lost six wickets for 217 runs with Northamptonshire’s bowlers sensing an opportunity to bat early in the afternoon on Day 2.

Keogh picked up the wicket of Simmonds just before lunch, leaving Warwickshire 224/7 and Malik on 92. The afternoon session wasn’t as plain sailing for Northamptonshire, though, as Malik brought up his century off 168 balls and put on 74 with Trodd at the other end.

Trodd struck three sixes and two fours as he scored a destructive 40, putting the home side within reach of 300 as the afternoon wore on. The bowlers recovered well, though, with Guthrie claiming his fifth wicket of the innings in a tireless effort before Dom Leech entered the fray and bowled Walallawita for 5.

Taylor and Malik worked hard in the last wicket stand, though, as they heaved Warwickshire to 339 all out. Malik finished majestically, unbeaten on 147 as he continued to accelerate, bludgeoning 17 fours and three sixes. George Scrimshaw eventually had Taylor caught and Northamptonshire were sent into bat with a deficit of 152.

Miller and Aadi Sharma were dismissed early by Simmonds and Barker, bringing Louis Kimber to the crease with Rob Keogh as the pair navigated to 26/2 at tea.

As the pair looked to get beyond Warwickshire’s lead, the rain came and forced the players off the field at 4:20pm and eventually ended the day’s play prematurely. Northamptonshire go into the third day 126 behind and with eight wickets in hand.

Play starts at 11am tomorrow and a scorecard and clips can be found here.