A high-class double hundred by Ian Bell saw Warwickshire to 445/8 at the end of the second day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay, with the visitors leading by 242 runs.
Evening Update
Warwickshire resumed on 337/5 after tea and Ian Bell was swiftly into the runs as he leg-glanced Wagg who, in the overcast conditions was in spin mode, for four. But in the second over David Lloyd trapped Tim Ambrose l.b.w. with Keith Barker replacing him in the middle. But shortly afterwards the light deteriorated and the players left the field with an hour’s interruption and the loss of seven overs.
When play resumed at 5.30pm, Bell continued his batting masterclass by bringing up the 350 with another classical off-drive against David Lloyd before glancing Graham Wagg to fine-leg. He then threaded a delivery from Wagg through extra cover for another sublime four before Barker glanced Wagg to fine-leg. He then under-edged Lloyd to fine-leg for four before Bell pulled Wagg for four. Barker greeted the return into the attack of Michael Hogan by on-driving him for another boundary.
Bell then secured his second six by on-driving Salter for six before reaching with double-hundred with an exquisite cover drive for four against the spinner – his 327th delivery and 26th boundary. But in the spinner’s next over Bell’s masterclass ended as he was snared leg before and departed for 204. With Jeetan Patel as his new partner, Barker used the long handle to smear Salter for four but Hogan also had an l.b.w. appeal upheld as Patel swiftly departed with Warwickshire on 442/8.
A couple of overs later the light deteriorated again and play ended early with two further overs lost.
Afternoon Update
As in the morning session, Ian Bell began with an edge through the slips, with this time the ball from Ruaidhri Smith flying wide of second slip. He also edged Hogan to third man to reach 99 before caressing a single through point to reach 100 from 194 balls – his third century from as many innings this summer against Glamorgan. Four runs later, he reached the landmark of 20,000 first-class runs before top-edging a cut against Hogan high over the slips. Hain then middle the same stroke against Smith followed by another cover drive to the ropes.
Bell then greeted the return of Meschede by pulling him for six into the pavilion enclosure before Hain clipped the all-rounder to the boards at mid-wicket to bring up the century stand. He then cover drove Salter to reach his fifty from 74 balls before Glamorgan took the new ball as Wagg and Smith returned to the fray. Hain punched Smith through extra cover for another crisply-struck four but two balls later Kiran Carlson at cover dived low to cling onto the ball as Hain departed for an assertive 61.
Tim Ambrose joined Bell with Warwickshire 80 runs ahead and he was quickly into his stride cover-driving Wagg for four. Bell then leg-glanced Hogan for four before seeing his team to the 300-mark, and a further batting point with a sublime on-drive. Salter returned for another spell shortly before tea and was twice cover driven by Ambrose. A pair of fours by Bell against Meschede saw him complete his 150 from 264 balls.
Morning Report
For many, a visit to the genteel resorts along the North Wales coast is a most welcome opportunity. For Ian Bell, the same could be said about facing the Glamorgan attack, because the vastly experienced former England batsman by the start of play had amassed 264 runs to his name without being dismissed this summer against the Welsh county. Yesterday, though, he survived a chance when on 32 as an outside edge from his bat against Andrew Salter evaded the fielder at slip, and it will remain to be seen if Glamorgan will rue this missed opportunity given by the 36 year-old.
Earlier in the day, Bell himself had pouched a couple of sharp chances in the slips as Keith Barker and Olly Stone filleted Glamorgan’s middle and lower order, before he helped guide his side to within 87 runs of the home team’s total. With the promotion race hotting up, Warwickshire were looking to further consolidate their position when play began with Bell and night-watchman Chris Wright facing a Glamorgan attack eager themselves to make further inroads and to prevent the visitors from building a decent lead.
Michael Hogan and Ruaidhri Smith resumed the bowling duties with the latter being cover driven by Bell to reach fifty from 103 balls. Bell then sparred at a short ball from Smith and nearly gave Salter a diving catch at backward point Wright also spooned a drive against Hogan very close to a diving Kiran Carlson at mid-on, and the luck remained with the visitors as Bell inside-edged a drive against Smith to the ropes at fine-leg.
Bell then deftly clipped Hogan to deep square-leg for another four before Wright greeted the return of Craig Meschede to the attack by straight-driving the all-rounder for four before Bell pulled Meschede for four. But in the 52nd over Meschede made amends as, with the total on 162, he bowled Wright. Sam Hain duly joined Bell and he began by cover-driving Wagg for four, followed shortly afterwards by a consummate straight drive for four against Meschede.
David Lloyd then had a spell before lunch in tandem with Salter’s off-spin with Bell and Hain quietly working the ball around as they closed in on a first batting point, and a first innings lead. Bell ended the sequence of singles by clipping Lloyd to fine-leg. A trio of boundaries by Hain then saw Warwickshire gain a lead