Jack White led a resilient effort from Northamptonshire’s bowlers but it was the batters that continued to make hay at Edgbaston as on the third day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match.
Warwickshire began the day under pressure, on 80 for two needing 448 to avoid the follow on, but responded with the requisite resilience as Sam Hain (140 not out from 337 balls) and Will Rhodes (99 from 173 balls) added 201 for the fourth wicket.
Hain, whose career-best 208 arrived against Northamptonshire in 2014, played barely a false shot in seven hours at the crease and his reassuring presence helped Rhodes to relocate some form and fluency. The captain’s six previous innings this season had yielded just 73 runs.
Jul Sun 07 - 2:30 pm
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Northamptonshire Steelbacks
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Durham
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As an excellent batting track refused to deteriorate, all the bowlers could do was persevere in the sunshine. They did so commendably, led by Jack White who kept going manfully for 26-6-84-2 – very worthy figures in these conditions.
Warwickshire resumed on the third morning on 80 for two, 368 from the follow on. They needed a day of serious batting and delivered it. Only one wicket fell in first two sessions when, midway through the morning, Dom Sibley (52, 170 balls) edged a fine ball from Luke Procter behind.
Rhodes looked a little uncertain early on and was fortunate on 22 when he chipped Rob Keogh to mid on but the ball fell just in front of Kerrigan. The Warwickshire skipper gained fluency from that point as batting became easier and easier.
Hain was at his implacable best and reached his 12th first class century (239 balls) just before tea.
Rhodes was a single away from his ton when the impressive White, plugging away on a hot afternoon, induced an edge and Lewis McManus took another catch.
At 314 for four, the Bears still had work to do to reach the follow on figure and officially consign the match to stalemate. Hain and Matt Lamb ensured there was no late collapse with an unbroken stand of 80 in the last 23 overs of the day.
Northamptonshire 597/6dec (Vasconcelos 156, Young 134)
Warwickshire 394/4 (White 2/84, Procter 1/19)