Warwickshire 340 for 4 (Davies 149, Rhodes 81, Yates 69) vs 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 event 149 to steer from the entrance.
Warwickshire ended day one on 340 for 4 – with Liam Dawson’s double and a wicket apiece for Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas giving Hampshire minimal cheer.
Hampshire head coach Adi Birrell had forewarned that the pitch had been designed to be an identical to the season opener in opposition to Lancashire final week – a match that petered out to a draw.
It had been hoped a change in ball from Kookaburra to Dukes would possibly provide the bowlers extra help however in actual fact it solely helped the batters rating faster – particularly with a brief boundary on one facet.
Davies’ choice to bat after profitable the toss was a no brainer, and proved as comparable to he placed on a clinic of subject manipulation and boundary hitting.
He and opening associate Yates tore into the over-pitching Abbott early on – the South African went for 29 in his opening 4 overs because the opening stand whizzed previous 50 inside 14 overs.
The duo have been coming off the again of an epic 343-run stand in opposition to Worcestershire at Edgbaston final week. As they raced to 114 by lunch, with barely an oooh or an ahhh from Hampshire’s bowlers, a equally large alliance seemed doubtless.
Yates had reached his fifty in 80 balls, however fell within the second over of the resumption after Abbott modified tact. The previous Take a look at fast had solely bowled across the wicket earlier than the interval however afterwards came visiting, and managed to get the left-hander to nick behind with the ball angling throughout him.
The breakthrough did not spark a collapse as a 116-run partnership made means for a 174-run one.
Davies has changed Rhodes as captain this season put the pair batted as one in opposition to a bowling assault struggling to discover a innovative.
Davies eased by means of his half-century in 82 deliveries, and regardless of being bowled by James Fuller off a no-ball, breezed to a ninth first-class ton in 166 balls.
Apart from a swept most off Dawson, Rhodes was workmanlike and unmemorable in his batting – however his fashion merely noticed the runs column proceed to extend steadily. His half-century took 97 balls.
Davies fell for 149 when he edged to James Vince at first slip whereas making an attempt to work Dawson to the leg facet.
A brand new ball quickly after noticed Abbas pin Rhodes on the shin earlier than Ed Barnard was lbw to Dawson to present Hampshire a brighter finish to a batting-dominant day – typified by solely 22 performs and misses.
