Read century as Bears toil in sun

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Trent Bridge:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Nottinghamshire 388, Warwickshire 24-0 (Notts 4pts, Warwicks 3pts)
11-14 August 2009

Live commentary

Match scorecard

Read (right) is congratulated by Andre Adams after reaching three figures

Captain Chris Read hit his third hundred of the season as Nottinghamshire enjoyed a productive first day against Warwickshire.

The County Championship challengers recovered from the loss of three early wickets to post 388, Read making a fluent 110 from 148 balls.

Adam Voges hit a rapid 68 and Samit Patel 47 for the hosts, while Naqaash Tahir picked up 4-89.

Sreesanth claimed 3-65 on his debut for the Bears, who replied on 24-0.

England's Graeme Swann was forced to withdraw from the Nottinghamshire squad with a stomach upset.

Instead, opener Matthew Wood, unlucky to be left out after hitting a season's best 85 last week, was drafted back in.

But he, Scott Newman, and Mark Wagh were all dismissed inside 14 overs by Tahir, as the Bears tried to take advantage of the overcast and warm conditions.

It was not surprising that the visitors should choose to bowl after winning the toss, particularly with Trent Bridge's reputation for aiding swing.

And they were initially rewarded when on-loan Surrey left-hander Newman was lbw playing forward to a ball that nipped back, Wood edged to gully and Wagh was bowled by an off-cutter.

But, with the scoreboard at 43-3, in-form Aussie Adam Voges counter-attacked in attractive fashion, pulling two consecutive deliveries from Boyd Rankin for six as he and Patel put on 98 in 17 overs.

Sreesanth ended the partnership with a double strike just after lunch, Voges edging to Bell at gully and Ali Brown fending a rising ball to Rikki Clarke in the slips.

But Read, Notts' leading scorer in first class cricket this season, slipped straight into the groove with a straight drive for four. And he led from the front to ensure his side picked up four batting points in pursuit of Division One leaders Durham.

Warwickshire's England hopefuls Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott were forced to wait for their chance to impress as openers Ian Westwood and Ant Botha survived to reach the close unscathed.