Northamptonshire 2XI struggled to limit Warwickshire’s scoring on a challenging two days at the Edgbaston Community Sports Ground.
Warwickshire were straight into bat for the start of Day 2, having bowled Northamptonshire 2XI out for 237 late on in Day 1.
Ethan Brookes and Jake Lintott opened the batting for the home side in fairly overcast conditions.
The openers made a strong start, bringing up the 50 partnership in just 9.2 overs.
However, James Sales made the breakthrough in the next over, dismissing Lintott for 24, as he hit one straight to Harry Gouldstone at cover.
Kai Smith joined Brookes in the middle and the pair made it hard for Northamptonshire’s bowlers, scoring another 50 partnership.
Gus Miller was the one to break the partnership this time, removing Smith for 27 after Simon Kerrigan took a sharp catch at first slip.
By lunch, Warwickshire found themselves 113/2 and trailing by 124 runs.
Unfortunately, that was the all the play that was managed for Day 2 as rain meant that only 28 overs were bowled in the day.
Day three began with Warwickshire on 113/2, with Ethan Brookes and Chris Benjamin at the crease.
Brookes and Benjamin immediately made up time for the time lost on Day 2, putting on a mammoth 198 run partnership. Both players reached centuries, with Brookes scoring 147 and Benjamin scoring 110 before being removed by Alex Russell and Gus Miller respectively.
In reply to Northamptonshire 2XI’s 237, Warwickshire were bowled out for 512 with just over an hour of play left in the day.
Alex Russell and Gus Miller took three wickets apiece, James Sales took two and Freddie Heldriech and Simon Kerrigan took one wicket each.
With overs to bowl still in the day, Northamptonshire went into bat for their second innings, 275 runs behind.
In the 18 overs bowled in the day, four wickets fell for Northamptonshire, restricting them to 76/4 by the end of play on Day 3, 199 runs behind Warwickshire 2XI’s first innings.