Troughton, Clarke and Westwood all hit tons for Bears

[dutchman]

Warwickshire skipper Jim Troughton and Rikki Clarke followed Ian Westwood's example by hitting centuries against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.


Rikki Clarke (left) is congratulated by Jim Troughton

Resuming on 145, with the home side on 235-3, Westwood went on to make 171.

But, having picked up just three batting points, Troughton (151) and Clarke (126) shared 203 for the sixth wicket as the Bears declared on 574-7.

Alex Hales made a positive response for the reigning champions, still there on 51, as Notts closed on 86-1.

Coming on the back of a second-ball dismissal on his international debut for England in the Twenty20 international against India a week ago, Hales has more of a platform to show off his talents to the Test selectors on day three.

But, against a fired-up Bears attack scenting Warwickshire's seventh County Championship title - and their first in seven summers - Notts will resume on day three still 299 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

Troughton, who had managed only three fifties in his previous 54 championship innings, played with composure to reach his first century since August 2009.

The Bears skipper ended his two-year century drought on a day when Notts suffered the highest total they have conceded this season.

But it was only after Warwickshire had pottered to 338-5 in 110 overs, 12 runs short of a fourth batting point, that he and Clarke cut loose in a destructive stand of 203 in 30 overs which demoralised Nottinghamshire's weary attack.

Clarke, who recently rejected a move to Sussex, was given licence to play his shots to set up the declaration and he turned a 44-ball 50 into a 90-ball century which included two straight sixes off Graeme White.

The slow left-armer absorbed more heavy punishment when Clarke off drove then pulled him for further sixes but gained a measure of revenge when the former England all-rounder picked out deep midwicket.

White also eventually snared Troughton, who was bowled trying to force him through the off side, but not before the former England one-day international left-hander had stroked 19 fours in his 259-ball innings.

Westwood had earlier perished in the pursuit of quick runs when he hooked Luke Fletcher into the hands of Paul Franks at long leg for his 171, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 177 in 49 overs with Troughton.

Nottinghamshire had to make 425 just to avoid the follow on but they have started well, despite the loss of Karl Turner, taken at first slip driving at Chris Woakes.

LV County Championship Division One, Edgbaston
Close, day two: Warwickshire 574-7dec, Nottinghamshire 86-1
Warwicks 3pts, Notts 1pt