Warwickshire thwarted by weather

Warwickshire were thwarted by rain and bad light in their bid to gain revenge for their humiliating nine wickets defeat at the hands of Worcestershire a week ago.

Warwickshire, seeking their first championship home win of the season, were moving into a commanding position at tea when play was halted prematurely.

In reply to Worcestershire's 263 they had obtained an impressive 224-1 with opener Mark Wagh their dominant player.

The former Oxford University player recorded his personal best score of the season and when play ended for the day Wagh was 118 just six short of his previous personal best.

On a friendly, easy paced wicket Warwickshire were never in any real trouble. Worcestershire, however, were to rue their indifferent fielding.

Wagh, dropped in the first over of Warwickshire's innings before he had even scored, made Worcestershire pay dearly for their lapse.

Michael Powell, Warwickshire's other opener, also gave a chance when 28. Warwickshire were then 59-0 but he too prospered and along with Wagh put on 166 for the first wicket.

It was then that Powell was induced to play a forward return shot to a slower delivery from Glenn McGrath to enable the Australian pace-man to take an easy catch.

Powell's contribution was 69 which contained ten fours and at that stage Warwickshire were building what appeared a winning foundation.

Wagh, whose previous best score this season had been 59, carried on relentlessly and sent up is century with a straight on-drive off Stuart Lampitt for four - his 14th of the innings.

It was his third century of his career and he was only able to achieve this landmark because Nick Knight has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Warwickshire, faced by a mediocre attack, moved to 224-1 when bad light and rain ended play on a day with 41 overs were lost due to the adverse conditions.