COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Warwickshire 179-1 v Worcestershire
2-5 September 2009

Warwickshire captain Ian Westwood gave his side's hopes of avoiding the drop a boost with an undefeated local derby century against Worcestershire.

Westwood hit 101 not out of 179-1, the left-hander's first County Championship ton at Edgbaston as Worcestershire paid a price for choosing to field first.

Breezing along to a second 50 from only 57 balls, Westwood outscored England's Ian Bell in an unbroken 100-run stand.

Only Matt Mason, who conceded just 19 runs in 13 overs, bowled with credit.

Exactly half of the scheduled 96 overs were lost because of a delayed start and two interruptions during the day.

But, after some uncertainty at the start of his innings, Westwood, who had previously hit just 374 Championship runs in 11 matches prior to this game at an average of 23.37, thrived in the mostly unpleasant conditions.

The Birmingham-born batsman has experienced numerous ups and downs in the 15 months since his last hundred against Glamorgan at Cardiff.

He missed the end of last season with a wrist problem which carried over into this year.

Then, having been made captain last winter in succession to Darren Maddy, he missed this season's first two Championship matches in his recovery from the injury, and has struggled for consistency.

But he could not have chosen a better time to find some form with his side battling to avoid an immediate return to Division Two after sharing in last season's Pears/Bears Midland promotion double.

Worcestershire have long since looked destined for the drop, having so far failed to win any of their 12 games.

But their spirits were raised by a stirring effort in last week's draw with Nottinghamshire, when they came close to winning even without Matt Mason.

But, apart from Mason, who shook off an ankle injury to slip back into the groove for a return of 13-6-19-0, the rest was not so good, Imran Arif and Gareth Andrew conceding 92 runs in their 17 overs.

Westwood and Ant Botha (22) were allowed to build a base with an opening partnership of 79 before the visitors switched to their fourth seamer and secured their solitary success of the day.

Richard Jones immediately found some movement, breaking through when his 12th delivery clipped the top of Botha's off stump.

But, with Bell looking secure as he reached 32 from 88 balls, there were no further troubles for the home side.

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