CRICKET: RELEGATION looms for Warwickshire following nine seasons in the top flight of County Championship cricket following a 169-run defeat to Somerset.
Chasing 402 for victory, the home side was bowled out for 232 to suffer their seventh defeat in 11 championship games.
Warwickshire will face Essex at Edgbaston next week with the prospect of having their relegation sealed while the visitors celebrate clinching the title in the adjacent dressing-room.
Somerset’s march towards victory on the final day was delayed by rain which prevented play before lunch.
After losing 21 overs, the sun eventually shone at Edgbaston as Warwickshire looked to add to their total of 172/6.
But they could add just 12 runs before Craig Overton nipped one back inside Tim Ambrose’s defence to dismiss him lbw for 21.
Jeetan Patel and Chris Wright added 35 before the latter was bowled by a swinging yorker from Tim Groenewald – although the spinners enjoyed themselves in this match on a turning track it was perhaps the work of Somerset seamers Groenewald and Overton that was most impressive.
Former Warwickshire player Groenewald completed a well-deserved five-for (58/5) when Patel (42) lifted to point.
Dom Bess completed the most emphatic of victories when he knocked out Sunny Singh’s off-stump.
Picture: Manjit Narotra.
