Trott century holds up Lancashire

LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Lancashire 354 & 199, Warwickshire 113 & 263-6
Lancashire 7 pts, Warwickshire 3 pts
Match scorecard

Jonathan Trott hit his first ton since the Ashes decider at The Oval last August

Jonathan Trott made a timely return to his best first-class form with an unbeaten ton to frustrate Lancashire's push for victory at Edgbaston.

Following on the back of successive match-winning knocks in the Clydesdale Bank 40, Trott hit an unbeaten 102 to steer the Bears to 263-6 at the close.

Having bowled out Lancashire for 199 second time round, the Bears still need 178 to win, with only four men to come.

But it was a timely knock for Trott with the Test squad picked on Sunday.

It was Trott's first three-figure score in first-class cricket since his memorable Test debut in last August's Ashes decider at the Oval.

There has been speculation that Trott's Test place might be under threat after his indifferent winter form and an inconsistent start to the domestic season which had seen him make only three Championship half centuries, along with five single-figure scores.

But the South African-born right-hander came good with a determined and unflustered innings on a pitch of variable bounce and against a strong Lancashire attack including his England team-mate James Anderson.

Chasing 441, which would be the highest fourth innings total in their history, Trott, Jim Troughton (41) and Rikki Clarke (42) took the game into a fourth day. But Lancashire, who beat the Bears at Old Trafford last month, are still well-placed to complete a swift double over them.

Once again it was visiting skipper Glen Chapple who caused most problems.

He followed up his five wickets in the first innings with four more, including an opening burst of 3-12 which included the Bears' other England Test candidate Ian Bell.

Chapple then had to recall himself to break Trott's 89-run fourth-wicket stand with Troughton.

Anderson bowled two short and economical spells but was more expensive when he was brought back for a third as Trott and Clarke counter-attacked either side of tea.

And, after Clarke had helped to add 86 in 26 overs for the fifth wicket with Trott, it was slow left-armer Simon Kerrigan who got rid of him.

When Tim Ambrose gave a return catch to Tom Smith, Lancashire briefly scented a three-day win but Neil Carter helped Trott to blunt Lancashire's attack and deny them the chance to claim the extra half-hour.

The BBC's Warwickshire correspondent Clive Eakin gives his close of play verdict:

It's an achievement for Warwickshire to have taken this game into day four. But, with defeat still looking more than likely, they'll end up reflecting on what might have been.

Their first innings effort was very poor, with all but Neil Carter out for single figures. If just one other batsman had made a half decent score the Bears might still have had a chance.

Then a remarkable turnaround might also have been possible had they finished Lancashire off after reducing them to 33-6 in their second innings.

Instead, for Warwickshire supporters, there was the satisfaction of seeing Jonathan Trott complete his first Championship century of the season.

An assured innings, it followed a century and a 96 not out in the 40-over stuff. And he has done all he can ahead of the England selectors naming the Test team on Sunday.