COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Essex 90-7
Warwickshire 2pts
Match scorecard
 Chris Woakes has taken 34 wickets in the Championship this season |
Warwickshire took control of their clash with fellow Division One strugglers Essex before the rain intervened on day one at Edgbaston. In the 27.3 overs of play that were possible, Warwickshire, who won the toss, reduced the visitors to 90-7. Chris Woakes picked up 3-28 and Boyd Rankin 2-4, with only Ravi Bopara (42 not out) providing any resistance. Bottom side Warwickshire began the match 11 points behind eighth-placed Essex, who have played a game more. Billy Godleman (22) and Jaik Mickleburgh added 36 for the first wicket, but Woakes removed both men and Matt Walker in the space of 12 balls.  | 606: DEBATE |
Woakes' new-ball partner Neil Carter toiled without reward, but the change bowlers both had success, with Rikki Clarke bowling Mark Pettini and Darren Maddy having James Foster caught at slip. Bopara rode his luck to progress towards lunch only to see Rankin claim Ryan ten Doeschate and David Masters before the break. The bad weather arrived during the interval and play was abandoned shortly after an early tea was taken.
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Clive Eakin reflects on the day one action:
"The day stayed dry long enough for a morning session during which the Warwickshire bowlers moved the game on well, with seven wickets exposing an Essex batting line-up bereft of confidence. "The one remaining threat is Ravi Bopara who, in contrast to his colleagues, has looked assured and positive. "Essex coach Paul Grayson blamed the pitch for his side's latest batting woes and the big question, of course, is how Warwickshire's equally frail looking batting line-up will fare. "Coach Ashley Giles's latest psychological strategy is to ban talk of 'confidence' and tell the batsmen just to bat. It needs to work if the Bears are to retain a chance of survival."
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