April 19-22, Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Warwickshire 455 (Davies 149, Rhodes 81, Dawson 5-146, Abbas 2-58)
Hampshire 140-1 (Gubbins 67*, Middleton 61*, Hannon-Dalby 1-26)
Toss: Warwickshire, who elected to bat. Officials: Rob Bailey, Martin Saggers, Simon Hinks
DAY ONE
ALEX DAVIES continued his run-fuelled start to the season with the first day’s only century as Warwickshire dominated Hampshire.
New Bears skipper Davies has already totted up 441 runs this season – over 60 per cent of the runs he managed in 2023 – with scores of 36, 256 and on this occasion 149 to lead from the front.
He was partnered by Rob Yates and Will Rhodes – who are themselves up to 286 and 323 runs this campaign after 69 and 81 respectively at Utilita Bowl.
Warwickshire ended day one on 340 for four - with Liam Dawson’s double and a wicket apiece for Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas Hampshire only successes.
Hampshire head coach Adi Birrell had warned by that the pitch had been designed to be identical to the season opener against Lancashire last week – a match that petered out to a draw.
Davies’ decision to bat after winning the toss was therefore a no-brainer, and he put on a clinic of fielder manipulation and boundary hitting.
He and Yates tore into the over-pitching Abbott early on – the South African went for 29 in his opening four overs.
The duo were coming off the back of an epic 343- run partnership against Worcestershire at Edgbaston last week. As they raced to 114 by lunch, with no hint of a chance, a similarly massive alliance looked likely.
Yates had reached his fifty in 80 balls, but fell in the second over after the resumption after Abbott came over the wicket and managed to get the left-hander to nick behind with the ball angling across him.
The breakthrough didn’t spark a collapse as a 116-run partnership made way for a 174-run one.
Davies has replaced Rhodes as captain this sea-son put the pair batted as one against a bowling attack struggling to find a cutting edge.
Davies was bowled by James Fuller off a no-ball, but breezed to a ninth firstclass ton in 166 balls.
He eventually fell for 149 when he edged to James Vince at first slip while attempting to work Dawson to the leg-side.
A new ball soon after saw Abbas pin Rhodes on the shin for 81 before Ed Barnard was lbw to Dawson to give Hampshire a brighter end to a batting-dominant day - typified by only 22 plays and misses.
DAY TWO
Warwickshire’s run-laden start to
