Hain helps put Bears on brink of win over Yorkshire
Sam Hain has scored 423 runs in five County Championship matches this season at an average of 70 [Getty Images] Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Edgbaston (day three) Warwickshire 147 & 553-6 dec: Hain 164* , Yates 81, Mousley 70, Barnard 60, Malik 57; Van Beek 2-100 Yorkshire 152 & 98-5: Revis 37*; Bamber 3-29 Yorkshire (3 pts) trail Warwickshire (3 pts) by 451 runs with five wickets standing Match scorecard Warwickshire are on the brink of victory over Yorkshire at Edgbaston after one of the most sensational turnarounds in County Championship history. Well on top after day one, Yorkshire will resume on the last morning on 98-5, chasing 549 for victory, after the home side piled up 553-6 in their second innings. Sam Hain scored 164 not out from 319 balls, his 20th first-class century, with assertive support from Ed Barnard (60) and Zen Malik (57).
Facing their mammoth target, Yorkshire were then reduced to 14-3 by Ethan Bamber's burst of 3-5 in 22 balls. The additional fall of Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow just before the close has left the White Rose needing a miracle from their lower order, or lots of rain, on the final day. This truly remarkable match saw Yorkshire dominate the first day but Warwickshire dominate the next two to an even greater degree.
After bowling their way back into the match on the second, their batters relentlessly pressing home their advantage on the third. They resumed on 267-3, already 262 ahead and soon lost Beau Webster (32) who fell lbw to an in-ducker from George Hill, but it proved an isolated success for Yorkshire's toiling attack. To Hain's implacable anchor, Barnard added punishing strokes.
In a perfect captain's innings, which added impetus just when needed, the skipper capitalised on a short boundary, landing three sixes into the Hollies Stand, two off Ben Cliff and one off Logan van Beek, on the way to a 38-ball half-century. After Barnard lofted van Beek to long leg, Malik joined Hain to form yet another productive partnership. Warwickshire highest stand in the first innings was 30 - their lowest completed stand in their second was 52.
Hain reached his century from 252 balls and Malik followed to his 50 in 82 as Yorkshire understandably spared their front-line bowlers from pointless drudgery while they waited for the declaration. Malik lifted Dom Bess to deep cover and there was just time for Jordan Thompson to hoist former colleagues Harry Brook and Dom Bess for sixes before the declaration came at tea. With four sessions to bat, Yorkshire plunged to 14-3 after a superb new-ball spell from Bamber.