Leicestershire crumble to 125 as Warwickshire close in on title — Foxes relegated subject to appeal

Warwickshire's march towards a ninth County Championship title continued apace at Edgbaston as relegation-bound Leicestershire became the latest side to be crushed by the Bears' irrepressible bowling attack.

Warwickshire began the final round of matches knowing that 14 points or more would be enough to seal the championship, and their bowlers made a powerful start. The Foxes chose to bat in a bid to earn the batting points essential to their survival hopes — but the plan went spectacularly pear-shaped as they were dismissed for 125, effectively confirming their demotion, subject to appeal over a 27-point penalty.

Bears' attack in rampant form

The visitors' decision to bat first suited Warwickshire perfectly. An attack that had bowled out the opposition for under 200 in seven of nine previous matches maintained that streak, striking twice in the first two overs as Sheridon Gumbs played inside Ethan Bamber's fourth ball and lost off-stump, before Rishi Patel offered no shot and was LBW to Chris Woakes, who then had Steve Eskinazi caught at point.

With the Foxes at 15-3, and overseas linchpin Nick Kelly having returned home injured and Hamza Shaikh ineligible to face the club from which he is still technically on loan, Leicestershire were in disarray and never recovered. Jonny Tattersall and Sol Budinger fell to successive deliveries — Tattersall becoming Olly Hannon-Dalby's 370th first-class wicket for Warwickshire before Budinger edged the next ball, from captain Ed Barnard, to second slip.

Former Worcestershire keeper Ben Cox, a T20 Finals Day winner on this ground eight years ago, and skipper Ian Holland dug in either side of lunch. But Bamber struck twice more, having Holland caught at third slip and Ben Green nicked to first. A perfect outswinger from Woakes ended Cox's diligent 33, Ajaz Patel dragged a pull back onto his stumps from Bamber's bowling, and Josh Hull offered a simple return catch. Bamber finished with 4-42 and Woakes took 3-20.

Hain steers the reply

Warwickshire's reply started badly when Rob Yates played on to Holland's seventh ball. Dan Mousley hit four quick fours to get the innings going, but after changing his bat he edged the next ball, from Holland, to third slip. Will Young was caught at first slip off Green and Vansh Jani, after two sparkling boundaries, skied a mow at spinner Ajaz Patel.

Once again, Sam Hain delivered in the central role. As composed and organised as ever, he finished the day unbeaten on 37 — closing in on 1,000 runs for the season — accompanied by a flurry of boundaries from Barnard, with a five off the helmet easing the Bears in front shortly before the close. Warwickshire ended day one on 130-4, leading by five runs.