2011 English Domestic Season

Warwickshire’s stand-in skipper Ian Bell enjoyed a near faultless day as the visitors moved into a position of total dominance against LV= County Championship leaders Nottinghamshire.

England batsman Bell hit his 34th first-class hundred to lead Warwickshire to 376 all out and then watched as Boyd Rankin and Darren Maddy shared three wickets apiece to bowl out Nottinghamshire for 117 in their first innings

After Bell had opted to enforce the follow-on, the giant Rankin subsequently added another three victims in 10 balls as the hosts crashed to 60 for four at the close, still 199 behind and staring at their first innings defeat since 2009.

Stuart Broad, who removed Bell for 139, top-scored in Notts’ first innings with 24, but was one of 14 home wickets to fall in the space of 41 overs.

Warwickshire resumed on 233 for three this morning and lost Mohammad Yousuf in the second over of the day as Andre Adams produced a neat pick-up and throw off his own bowling to run out the Pakistan batsman.

England spinner Graeme Swann struck in his first over when Maddy edged his arm-ball to slip, but Bell held firm and brought up his century with a drive through the covers.

Rikki Clarke fell with an edged drive to first slip on the stroke of lunch before the last four Warwickshire wickets fell within five overs during the afternoon session.

Tim Ambrose was lbw to Adams and Naqaash Tahir edged his first ball to third slip to become the New Zealander’s third victim.

Broad then picked up the last two wickets as he had Chris Metters caught at short-leg before Bell holed out to mid-on hitting out in pursuit of a final batting point.

Bell’s thoughtful captaincy then paid off as Notts were bowled out in 37.3 overs, although at least six batsmen were culpable in their dismissals with a succession of poor shots.

Tahir removed openers Akhil Patel and Mark Wagh before Steven Mullaney hooked Rankin straight to long-leg.

Ali Brown was bowled through the gate by Maddy, who then trapped Paul Franks lbw after Adam Voges had sliced Clarke to gully.

Maddy picked up his third wicket after tea when Notts skipper Chris Read provided the bowler with a return catch and both Swann and Adams departed in tame fashion before Broad’s brief resistance was ended with a thin edge off Clarke.

Things got no better for Notts in the second innings. Patel was caught behind off Tahir’s third ball and the fiery Rankin bounced out Mullaney, Wagh and Brown in the space of two overs.

With two days still to play and a fair weather forecast, it will take a remarkable effort for Notts to avoid a second successive championship defeat.