Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S election system could not have received more damning condemnation than when a High Court judge announced he'd found vote-rigging in the city which would "disgrace a banana republic".

IF you have any doubts about recent calls for everyone to be considered an organ donor unless they opt out just look at today's picture of little Erin Nicks.

Bit of cloud cover this morning so the ball should swing for Warwickshire's bowlers. They need brisk wickets. The way they are batting at the moment any deficit of around 100 could be decisive.

The Bears players are indulging in some callisthenics on the outfield. I had rice krispies for the first time in 25 years this morning - they haven't lost their magic I can tell you. Meanwhile, at the posh end of the hotel market, a Ronnie Corbett lookalike is staying at Warwickshire's team hotel.

Durham 149 for 3 (49 overs). Coetzer 44, Benkenstein 24.

Bit of help from the pitch. Thick cloud to assist swing. Munton and Small would have fancied these conditions big-time.
Durham have progressed sweetly - 39 without loss in 11 overs - so far this morning though against Tahir and Anyon and now Harris. When Anyon dropped short, Benkenstein was on to it in an instant and pulled it murderously. Then Coetzer did the same. The Bears badly require a stroke of inspiration.

Durham 178 for 3, now just 61 behind. Coetzer 58, Benkenstein 38.

Streak and Harris are wheeling away but the batsmen are content to defend the good balls and work around the others.

"It's not looking good for the Bears at the moment," a press-box sage has just observed with ever-so-slight under-statement.

Durham were within sight of lunch, having added 81 without loss this morning at 191 for 3, when Maddy brings himself on. The captain's first ball is chipped straight into the hands of Sangakkara at mid-wicket by Benkenstein.
The Durham skipper goes for 45. Next over, new batsman Mustard, on 1, drives at Daggett and finds his off and middle stumps flattened.
Durham 198 for 5. Coetzer, dropped off a caught-and-bowled by Harris on 58, is on 68 and Harmison 0.

So far in Durham's innings.
Daggett: Bounced back well after rough treatment yesterday. 13-3-40-1.
Streak: Steady - and the big wicket of Chanderpaul. 15-3-42-1.
Anyon: Off the boil this morning. 12-2-40-0.
Tahir: Probing. 12-4-26-1.
Maddy: Keeping up reputation as valuable nipper-out of wickets. 9-3-21-2.
Harris: Accurate, not hugely threatening. 14-5-18-0.
Halford: Greedy. Rice Krispies, Toast. 2 bananas. 2 soups. 2 Satsumas. Ham sandwich. Pie.

Durham 244 for 5 (87 overs). Coetzer 93, Harmison 9. Five in front.
Poor session so far for the Bears since lunch. Too many four-balls and little decent use made of new ball. Also, when the bowlers earn a chance, it is not taken. Coetzer, on 87, edges Tahir at catchable height smack between Trott and Maddy at first and second slip. The fielders leave it to each other.
Coetzer's innings is hugely significant in the context of the match but quite colourless. He has just showed a lot of patience, an attribute of which Warwickshire's batters much show a great deal more in the second innings than they did in the first.

Durham 271 for 5. Coetzer 105, Harmison 22.
Ragged stuff from the Bears this afternoon, with some variable bowling and fielding.

Coetzer reached his century from 242 balls with 17 fours - a crucial but workmanlike effort. He was reprieved on 58 (ct-bld off Harris), 87 (edged between first and second slips off Tahir) and 98 (tough chance at mid-wicket to Westwood from a pull off Anyon).

Coetzer and Harmison have added 75 so far - this could be the decisive session of the match.

Tea. Durham 310 for 5 (71 ahead). Coetzer 121, Harmison 42.
Durham added 112 without loss in the session against a pedestrian bowling attack. Alex Loudon has not bowled a ball, evidently not even considered as an option now.

The cloud is thickening up and rain might arrive soon but the forecast for the next two days is good and the weather will not save the Bears here like it did at Canterbury.
Only good cricket - much better than they have produced so far in this match - can save Warwickshire.

Durham 328 for 5.

Loudon is about to bowl his first over - the 118th of the innings.

Durham 367 for 5 (128 overs). Coetzer 135, Harmison 80.

So far today, the Bears have bowled 90 overs and taken two wickets. It's pretty supine stuff really and you have to feel sorry for Darren Maddy who has just brought himself on at the Nicky-Nacky-Noo End in place of Alex Loudon.

The captain is wielding a bowling attack which has looked frankly toothless. Let's face it, Coetzer and Harmison are not world-beaters but they have so far added 171 without much fuss.

At last, Coetzer edges Maddy to slip to perish for 142 and conclude a partnership of 182 with Ben Harmison (84 not out). Otis Gibson joins Harmison at the crease and when immediately offered bad light they accept!
Truly bizarre! Durham are 378 for 6, 139 ahead of Warwickshire, and have spent the day rubbing their noses in the dirt. They have absolutely nothing to lose by staying out there but everything to gain. They could only have further driven home their dominance.
Warwickshire can't wait to get off after a wretched day - and Durham brought the moment forward. Very odd!

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. The sun is shining in Chester-le-Street. Warwickshire's only route to escape lies in their own skill and fortitude.
Durham evidently sense the kill. Their arc of slip-fielders in practice is rather large.
Warwickshire, meanwhile, have been in the nets and are now playing football on the outfield.

The Ronnie Corbett lookalike has checked out - although suspicions about whether he is only a lookalike were aroused when his farewell words to the receptionist were: "And it's goodnight from him."

Maddy and Anyon take up the attack for Warwickshire but Gibson cracks a couple of early boundaries and a six off Anyon to raise the 400. Durham 406 for 6. Harmison 91 Gibson 21.

I never understood why school pupils were encouraged to 'cover' exercise books. I mean the books already have covers which I assume the manufacturers thought were sufficiently robust.

And yet children were frowned upon if they did not add an extra cover - often in the form of ludicrously-coloured wallpaper. What a daft, pointless exercise that was.

Darren Maddy (captain and main man with the bat) probably wouldn't expect or want to be top of Warwickshire's bowling averages but he is and has just cemented his position there with his fourth wicket of this innings, courtesy of a lovely outswinger which Gibson edged to Ambrose.

Still, Durham advance though and Harmison, still playing and missing and with erratic footwork, has just reached his maiden champo ton from 237 balls with 12 fours and a six,

422 for 7 (182 in front). Harmison, watched by brother Steve, 101, Plunkett 5.

Durham 474 all out after Paul Harris nips out the last two wickets.

The Bears need 235 to avoid innings defeat.

Maddy, having taken 27-5-63-5, must now negotiotiate an awkward 25 minutes before lunch.

Just when you need some rain. Damn these dry summers...

Warwickshire 16 for 0. Maddy 7, Westwood 6. Need 235 to make Durham bat again.

Maddy dropped on 0, a difficult chance to Plunkett at gully off Gibson.
A reprieve for the skipper. Surely, it's asking too much for him to play another match-saving innings?

The rest of this match will reveal a great deal about the Bears' technical ability and, even more, their mental strength.

Maddy falls to a magnificent piece of fast-bowling. Gibson sends an off-cutter searing past the outside-edge then, next ball, rips through a yorker which sends middle-stump cartwheeling. Maddy out for 16.

92 for 1 (27). Westwood 28, Sangakkara 36.

How important was Ernie Wise to the success and subsequent elevation to the status of comedy legend of Eric Morecambe?

Westwood and Sangakkara coming up with some encouraging resistance. Both play and miss a bit as the ball continues to move around but Sangakkara unveils some fine drives and Westwood is showing increasing confidence after a scratchy start.

Bears 126 for 1. Westwood 46, Sangakkara 51.

Ernie Wise made the first mobile phone call in the UK on January 1, 1985 from St Katherine's Dock, East London.

Neil Carter has been placed on the 'transfer-list'. Warwickshire have announced that Carter is "unlikely" to be offered another contract so any counties who might be interested in signing him are welcome to make that interest clear. An interesting decision by the Bears. Carter should still have plenty of good cricket left in him and is unlikely to be short of offers.

In 1939, while still a teenager, Ernie Wise appeared with Arthur Askey in the Bandwagon show.

Tea. Warwickshire 154 for 1. Westwood 63, Sangakkara 60. Trail by 81.

Ian Westwood reaches 100 - his first century in 46 championship attempts since Colwyn Bay, 2005. An impressive, steel-nerved effort which should banish a few demons from all those times he has made a start in an innings but not carried it through.
Bears 213 for 1. Westwood 101, Sangakkara 77. And then Westwood, on 101, is dropped by Wiseman at slip off Plunkett.

Despite that reprieve, an excellent effort. Makes you wonder how Warwickshire made such a porridge of their first innings - but at least they have a chance of saving the game now.

Sangakkara reaches his century (154 balls, 12 fours). The patience he showed during his second 50 suggests he has his eyes on another double-hundred to go with the back-to-back ones he struck in Bangladesh last month.

Warwickshire 253 for 1. Westwood 113, Sangakkara 100. Fine effort,

Ernie Wise was an active and long-time participant in the "Keep Britain Tidy" campaign

Warwickshire 256 for 1. Westwood 116, Sangakkara 100.

A tremendous effort of resolve, concentration and skill by the pair who have so far added 218.

The Bears are 21 in front. As the pitch flattens out, a draw looks likely. How the Bears would settle for that after the first two days!

Ernie Wise lived in a luxury home on the banks of the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

LET'S make one thing clear.

The whole point of the investigation into the blunders which allowed cop killer Glaister Butler to murder detective Mick Swindells is to prevent it happening again.

NEW STREET Station is rapidly collecting more titles than Blues and Villa put together.

IT could be a day in the life of Posh and Becks.

Rubbing shoulders with the stars at the Cannes Film Festival and jetting off to far-flung destinations like San Francisco and Tokyo.

THERE must be a whole new section in careers libraries these days.

One dedicated to workers who spend their time coming up with barmy rules and regulations.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's a sparkling morning at Chester-le-Street.

Hard to see this match ending in anything but a draw but we will see if Ian Westwood and Kumar Sangakkara, having so far added 218, can challenge Warwickshire's record partnership against Durham - the 322 put on by Brian Lara and Keith Piper on a certain famous day at Edgbaston in 1994.

Otis Gibson has just fired home a rip-snorting 20-yarder for the bibs v the shirts on the outfield.

To the fifth ball of the day, from spinner Wiseman, Westwood survives a confident appeal for a catch at short-leg. He then edges the sixth to Di Venuto at slip to depart for his overnight 116.

Warwickshire 247 for 3 (effectively 22 for 3). Sangakkara 101, Trott 0.

Some work still to do for the Bears to earn a draw.

Warwickshire are lurching into jeopardy again after Trott edges Davies to Wiseman at second slip.
There's turn for Wiseman this morning - and a new ball is due.
Bears 262 for 3 (effectively 27 for three). Sangakkara 102, Loudon 0.

I've been in Durham for four days now and everybody - in pubs, shops and service stations, at the cricket ground and about town - has been really nice and friendly. Without exception. What a groovy part of the world.

Warwickshire 296 for 3 (61 in front). Sangakkara 119, Loudon 13.

Sangakkara is looking rock-solid and determined to record his third double-century in four first-class innings. Loudon has settled in well alongside him.

The next test: the new ball, just taken by Plunkett with Gibson about to bowl his first ball of the day.

"Sangakkara is looking rock solid...."

In Gibson's first over with the new ball, Sangakkara essays a big drive which entails the bat and pad separating by a fair distance and the ball speeds its way through said gap and knocks the off-stump out of the ground.

I know me stuff. Warwickshire 297 for 4 (62 in front). Loudon 13, Ambrose 0.

Lunch: Warwickshire 326 for 4. Loudon 26, Ambrose 16.
With 65 overs remaining, the Bears are 91 ahead so have plenty more work yet to reach sanctuary. Loudon and Ambrose have batted well, abetted by the sun coming out to diminish the swing of the ball and a loose new-ball spell by Plunkett.

Durham will fancy their chances of making shorter work of Warwickshire's tail than they did in the first innings so the Bears need Loudon and Ambrose to take root for a decent chunk of this afternoon.

342 for 4. Loudon and Ambrose batting steadily. Sanctuary on the horizon.
Then Ambrose edges Wiseman to short leg. Then Loudon is guilty of the most brainless piece of cricket this season. Having just leading-edged Wiseman inches over mid-off the very next ball he tries to loft the ball again and holes out to mid-on. 353 for 6.
Streak is plum lbw to Gibson for 0 (a pair). Tahir fishes at Gibson and nicks to the keeper for 0. Harris is guilty of a horrible slog at Wiseman and is stumped for 0. Carnage.

375 for 9. Anyon 6, Daggett, 13. 140 ahead with 49 overs left.

This afternoon's crazy collapse (5 wickets for 13 runs) is being put into perspective by last pair Anyon and Daggett.

Daggett has just gorgeously cover-driven Gibson for four and Anyon has swung Wiseman over square-leg for two sixes. Ernie Wise would have approved.

They have so far added 44. Warwickshire 399 for 9. Daggett 21, Anyon 22.
Bears 164 ahead with 47 overs left.

The day began with us wondering whether Westwood and Sangakkara would displace Lara and Piper from the record books. Instead, Anyon and Daggett have displaced Piper and Donald.

Piper and Donald's hitherto tenth-wicket record for the Bears v Durham (55) has just been eclipsed by the former Lancashire pair. They have so far added 56.

411 for 9. Anyon 28, Daggett 27. 176 ahead - 41 overs left. What a strange old beast of a game this cricket is.

Daggett is bowled by Plunkett for a career-best 33 to end a stand of 71 with Anyon who finished with a joint career-best 37 not out. Superb effort from those two.
I quote a press-box colleague (not Warwickshire-based): "What you saw there was two young men fully focused on and committed to the cause. Did that apply to all the others in the team?"

The astonishing twist means that, after tea, Durham will require 192 to win from 36 overs.

Well now, what an intriguing session we have left.

Durham 24 for 0 after 2.4 overs. Di Venuto 5, Mustard 17.

Mustard, sent in as a statement of intent, is adopting Twenty20, never mind one-day, mode.

He took most of the 17 that come from Tahir's first over, an over which contained a no ball and two fours out to that short boundary to which Westwood is quickly dispatched as deep cover

Durham 51 for 0 (6 overs). Di Venuto 16, Mustard 245Cupably, several no-balls already.
Curiously, Loudon, who was introduced for the 118th over in the first innings, bowled the fourth over of this one. It transpired to be a rather unfruitful one-over spell!

It's worth remembering that the Bears were only given a glimmer of hope here by that shock last-wicket stand between Anyon and Daggett. Without that, after that appalling earlier collapse, they would have been well and truly beaten by now.
If they escape with a draw here it shouldn't paper over any cracks.

Loudon switches ends for the ninth over and serves up a waist-high full toss which Mustard has hit so far for six that the ball has been lost.

73 for 0 in the ninth over. Mustard 45, Di Venuto 18.

Durham 97 for 0 (14 overs). Di Venuto 35, Mustard 52.
The umpires have ticked Warwickshire off for wasting time but so rapid has been Durham's progress that time-wasting is a waste of time, if you see what I mean.
Mustard, in particular, has batted very well but I am having a hard time - a very hard time - fathoming the decision to bowl Alex Loudon at such a crucial period.

Maddy and Trott have both gestured to spectators barracking the Bears for their rather charmless slowing-down of things.

Durham 134 for 0. Di Venuto 53, Mustard 70.

They require 58 from 16 overs.

The phrase "without a whimper" springs to mind.

Ernie Wise first joined forces with Eric Morecambe in 1941 when the two men were booked separately to appear in Jack Hylton's revue, 'Youth Takes a Bow'.

Mustard aims another big hit at Anyon and plays on. He departs, for 76, to a richly-deserved standing ovation.

A grain of hope? Well, the next ball from Paul Harris is hoisted for four by Di Venuto. And Chanderpaul has come in!

Durham (164 for 1; Di venuto 75, Chanderpaul 1) require 29 from 12 overs. It has gone a bit dark but rain doesn't appear imminent. Anyway it would be a travesty if Durham didn't win this game.

Durham won by nine wickets. Di Venuto 91 not out. The home supporters cheer them off the field.

One would imagine - one would hope - that Warwickshire's players are stinging after this. Stinging bad.

Still, only Sussex away next.

Well, night is drawing in at Chester-le-Street. All still and silent except a sprinkler watering the square and a gaggle of youngsters playing in front of the pavilion.
"Our skill-levels are a worry," admitted Mark Greatbatch to reporters D.Wheeler, G.Dobell and B.Halford who waited around patiently for his observations.
When asked by George about his position at the club, M.G. picked up his bag and departed. Tense, troublesome times.
Ah well, the A1(M) beckons. From Canterbury to Chester-le-Street, clocking up a few miles at the moment. Still, a home game next. Er, no it isn't. Hove ahoy. Who sorts out these fixtures?

IF YOU think you're generous when it comes to tipping taxi drivers think again.

Those extra couple of pounds handed over after a good night out are nothing compared to the generosity of Birmingham City Council.

JUST when we'd almost given up hope, summer finally arrived.

And what a weekend for it to get hot, hot, hot!

AS a second suspected outbreak of foot and mouth is investigated our thoughts go out not just to this region's farmers.

But to all the other businesses whose livelihoods are at risk from this devastating disease.

IT is an illness which strikes fear into us all.

But Steve Faulkner has proved in the best way possible that cancer doesn't automatically mean a death sentence.

Life is a coincidence... as in Sliding Doors and all that. In Mull last week for hols, staying in Tobermory (of Balamory CBBC fame), and strolling to the Bar for a pint (it was called the Bar, which is a great name for a pub). Anyway, there I was, 400 miles from where I live, and a voice pipes up: "How are you doing, Steve." And blow me if it wasn't Alan Sims, the deputy editor of the Evening Gazette in Middlesbrough (also a good 300+ miles away) with whom I worked closely for three years when editing that paper a few years back. Small world. Later last week, decided to pop in for a pint at another hostelry on the island in Dervaig, along with boys. "Do you serve kids' portions," asks I. "We do for kids who support the right team," says Nick, the landlord, a Villa fan from Sutton Coldfield who'd spotted the claret and blue shirts on my boys' backs!

YOU may think it impossible to put a price on life. Surely it is priceless?

But in the case of smiling Birmingham tot Mohammed Hasnin it was just £1,400.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is a sunny, breezy morning on the south coast and Hove, this most elegant of cricket venues, is looking delightful.

The teams are still to be finalised but Nayan Doshi will make his Warwickshire debut despite Sussex lodging an objection. Sussex pointed to rules preventing players playing for two counties in the same season but there are loopholes and as Doshi's previous county, Surrey, are quite happy with him signing for the Bears, the ECB sanctioned the move.

Not so cut and dried about Doshi, it seems. The toss has been delayed while the captains, coaches and Sussex's chief executive exchange views out near the square.

Lots of people are standing about with their hands behind their backs or their arms folded.

In fact one bloke has got his hands behind his back and his arms folded. How does he do that?

Doshi is deselected minutes before 11am. Details about the dispute are sketchy but the rule preventing players playing for two counties in a season (apart from on loan) is discretionary and it appears that, under pressure from Sussex, the ECB changed their mind.

Ah well, on with the cricket. Shantry comes into the team. Warwickshire win the toss and bat. 9 for 0 (2 overs). Maddy 9, Westwood 0.

Sausage baguette, tomato sauce.

The ECB have revealed that Doshi was kept out not by a rule-trangression but an apparent administrative cock-up. Their statement: "Under playing regulations 4.3 section iii, one player leaving a county to play for another county during a season has to have written permission from the county he's leaving before he's eligible to play for the county he's joining. That written permission has not been forthcoming from Surrey. It has to be delivered to Warwickshire and Warwickshire have to deliver it to us. That hasn't happened. Very simple."
And strange - as Surrey had e-mailed their approval to Warwickshire overnight.
All going well on the field though. Bears 75 for 0. Maddy 33, Westwood 36.

Ah yes, the cricket. We've all been so busy trying to clear up 'Doshigate' that Warwickshire's excellent start has gone almost unnoticed.

89 for 0 (23 overs). Maddy 40, Westwood 42. Maddy got away with a few streaky shots early but has settled well. Westwood is playing with aggression and confidence.

Mushtaq Ahmed, perhaps nervous now that he is a known Bears target, has already had a twirl at both ends and, from the Cromwell Road End, took a bit of punishment.

Was browsing around Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire, on Sunday, and came across a stunning artefact. A top-hat, greying but with a ribbon still round it, that was awarded to Cecil Fiennes for taking 3 wickets with successive balls for I Zingari in Dublin in 1859.
That was years before the term 'hat-trick' was officially coined, of course. Wow! How amazing to think that item was presented to Cecil at a cricket match almost 150 years ago, has lasted all these years and is in excellent nick. A hidden treasure.
Warwickshire 125 for 1 (32.1 overs) Westwood on 64, Maddy, stumped giving Mushy the charge, 53.

Lunch. Warwickshire 130 for 1 (35 overs) Westwood 64, Sangakkara 5.
Maddy and Westwood did brilliantly to add 125 considering all the pre-play kerfufflle and not least that the toss took place only ten minutes before the start of play so they had to pad up and go out to bat straight away.
They almost made it unparted through to lunch but then Maddy rashly gave Mushtaq Ahmed the charge and was stumped for 53.
Westwood has been solid and assertive though. Mushy: 11 overs for 50. All this overlooked by a block of flats that Ron Greenwood lived in.

The kettle's on in the press-box, plenty of seagulls are making themselves heard above the Sea End, the flags are fluttering in the strong breeze, Sussex's ex-Surrey twirlers Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed are wheeling away without looking enormously dangerous and Westwood and Sangakkara are batting in quietly impressive unison, just as they did for so long at Chester-le-Street last week.

Bears 184 for 1 (53 overs). Westwood 91, Sangakkara 26.

Warwickshire 214 for 1 (58). Westwood 100, Sangakkara 47.

Westwood reaches his second successive champo ton with his 14th four from 172 balls.

Sangakkara has just clouted Mushtaq Ahmed for three successive fours. Mushy has so far conceded 15 fours and a six and just been taken off.

23.8% of the spectators in the deckchairs at the Cromwell Road End are asleep.

Some would say collapsing in an art form and Warwickshire are turning into virtuosos. After startling battling implosions at Canterbury and Chester-le-Street they are at it again.
239 for 1. Looking good. Then Westwood gloves an attempted leave at Saqlain and goes for a fine 110.
Then later in the over Sangakkara, perhaps rashly having just lost his partner, sweeps at Saqlain and gives the simplest return catch. The same bowler soon snares Trott, caught off bat and pad, for six, then Loudon offers no stroke to Mushy and perishes lbw for a blob. Four wickets for four runs in 21 balls. Tea. 250 for 5. Troughton 3.

Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811-1899) was a German chemist who, in 1855, perfected a gas burner which was to become familiar to science students throughout the world.
Said item became known as a Bunsen Burner. This term could also be applied to the pitch that Sussex have prepared for this match. At tea on the first-day this dry, dusty 22 yards looks like a fourth-day pitch already.
No wonder they were keen to keep Doshi out. They obviously fancy Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq to outtweak Alex Loudon, Ian Westwood and Jim Troughton.
261 for 5. Troughton 6, Ambrose 4.

This strange, fluctuating day evens back up again as Troughton and Ambrose knuckle down.

Although the pitch is offering sharp turn, Sussex's spinners have not fully exploited it, with Mushtaq Ahmed especially having an off-day. Far too many four-balls.

293 for 5. Troughton 20, Ambrose 20. A glorious sunny evening. If the Bears can muster full batting points here, it will constitute a fine response to the Durham debacle.

Warwickshire 328 for 5. Troughton 34, Ambrose 38. Six overs left today.
Calm, measured batting by the pair towards the end of a fine, fluctuating day's cricket.

Highly entertaining stuff. I only wish George Bernard Shaw was here to see it. Once, when told that England had been successful in the Australian Tests, Shaw asked: "What were they testing?"

Pygmalion might have been a half-decent yarn but, gor blimey, he was a philistine.

In the final over, Troughton perishes, caught at slip off Saqlain for 35, to leave Warwickshire 349 for 6 at the close. Ambrose unbeaten on 52.

A last twist, then, to a splendid day's cricket in glorious weather at a beautiful ground. A good-sized, good-spirited crowd thoroughly enjoyed it and, so lovely is the evening, many are in no hurry to go home. A day full of the quintessential delights of county cricket. Long may it thrive.

Just a shame about me bad back.

REMEMBER the bad old days?

When Birmingham had an international reputation as a bleak, industrial city strangled by its own concrete collar?

TRADERS warn that Birmingham's historic Indoor Market is under threat because of rising rents.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
It's hot and sunny, Sussex have had their huddle and Heath Streak has accompanied Tim Ambrose to the crease. New ball taken.

The big question: Can Ambrose reach his fifth first-class century (and second at Hove)?

Somewhere, down on the seafront, lots of seagulls are at this moment having a right old laugh at waking me up at 5am and making sure I didn't get back to sleep.

For the fifth over with the new ball, Mushtaq Ahmed is brought on. He is swiftly forced into teapot pose as Streak lifts him way over the top for a one-bounce four and, later in the over, a big six. The latter blow brings up the bowler's 150 runs conceded.

Warwickshire 391 for 6. Ambrose 69, Streak 22.

There's an overwhelming smell of cabbage and gravy in the press box and we don't know why.

Ashley Giles will officially announce his retirement from cricket tomorrow.

Streak falls lbw to Rana Naved for a valuable 24, bringing in Adam Shantry for his first championship innings for the Bears. Shantry's first championship run for the Bears, a debonair single to mid-wicket, brings up the 400.
Warwickshire: 405 for 7. Ambrose, watchful and patient, is on 77. Shantry 4.

This stench of cabbage is 'orrible.

Warwickshire 433 all out. After Shantry and Tahir both fell for five, Ambrose was on 97 when last man Anyon strode to the crease.

A swept two off Saqlain took him to 99 but, trying to work the next ball to leg, he was beaten by a quicker ball and adjudged lbw for 99 from 170 balls with ten fours. A smashing innings, which deserved a ton.

Ambrose received a warm ovation into the pavilion from Sussex supporters who clearly like him.

Lunch. Sussex 7 for 3. Shantry, on his first championship bowl for the Bears, so far 2.4-1-2-3.

First up he delivers one on leg-stump which Montgomerie turned into the hands of Westwood at leg-gully. A slick bit of field-placing, that. Then Shantry delivers a beautiful outswinger which the left-handed Yardy follows and nicks to Ambrose. Then Nash turns another leg-stump delivery straight to Sangakkara at short mid-wicket. A sensational start.

Maybe it wasn't so bad that Doshi had to drop out after all! 284 needed to avoid the follow-on.

Shantry strikes again. This time it's another splendid delivery which nips away from Goodwin to take the outside-edge on the way through to Ambrose. That gives Shantry a burst of four for three in 11 balls.
What an extraordinarily unpredictable business this cricket is. The only other game that comes anywhere near it for emotion-shredding unpredictability is Cluedo.

Strangely, it's macaroni cheese downstairs today. Not a drop of gravy or a leaf of cabbage in sight. So where on earth is this overwhelming pong of gravy and cabbage coming from?

Chris Adams, on six, squeezes Shantry to leg-gully but Sangakkara just fails to cling on to a very difficult chance.

Only a tiny reprieve. Next over, Anyon gets one to climb at the Sussex skipper who can only fend it to Westwood at short leg. Adams out for seven - Shantry's aspirations to a debut all-ten are in ruins!

34 for 5. Hodd 11, Wright 0. Shantry, 8-5-11-4 so far, signing autographs on the boundary edge.

Sussex 69 for 5 (27 overs). Hodd 18, Wright 22.

Who'd have thought it? The champions engaged in a desperate rearguard action.

Anyon and Shantry have finished their long and excellent opening spells and Streak and Tahir have taken up the attack.

Have joined the Section 19 throng in the deckchairs. Smell of gravy less overpowering over here.

Naqaash Tahir slipping into rhythm from the Cromwell Road, pins Hodd plumb lbw and knocks out Rana Naved's off-stump.

Sussex 85 for 7. Wright 26, Saqlain 0. Still a long, long way from that follow-on figure of 284.

After the debacle of Durham, this is tremendous stuff from the Bears. Their sizeable band of travelling supporters, at least those who haven't gone back to the hotel for a shower to get the gravy out of their hair, are relishing it in the sunshine.

Tea. Sussex: 128 for 7. Wright 46, Saqlain 19.

Luke Wright, freshly capped, has led something of a revival but, still, what a session for Warwickshire.
Just a shame that Ambrose could not cling on to a difficult chance offered by a sweeping Saqlain, on 8, off Loudon (who has bowled quite well).

Big session coming up. Can the Bears keep Sussex down and get them following on tonight?

Anyon, from the Cromwell Road End, is leg-glanced very fine by Saqlain and Ambrose takes a superb catch far to his left. Not so impressively, Loudon makes a real hash of a simple catch at mid-wicket when Wright, on 51, mis-pulls Anyon.

134 for 8. Wright 51, Ahmed 1.

On to the table has just landed a baguette filled with 'dolphin friendly tuna'. Now what on earth is that?

Huge frustration for Anyon as, minutes after Loudon drops a sitter off Wright, the same batsman chops high to deep point where sub fielder Stuart Hole not only drops a simple chance but spills it over the rope for six!

Two balls later, Anyon knocks out Wright's off-stump. Top bowling. If you want a job doing...!

Susex 146 for 9. Ahmed 3, Lewry 0.

Sussex 168 all out after Anyon spreadeagles Lewry's stumps.

Anyon 4 for 62, Shantry 4 for 31. Tahir 2 for 42. Fine bowling by the young trio.

Warwickshire have a first-innings lead of 265 but have decline to enforce the follow-on. They have 21 overs to face tonight.

Warwickshire 59 for 1 (16 overs). Maddy 26, Sangakkara 16.

Westwood played on to Naved for 14 but the Bears' experienced numbers one and three are making steady progress.

Warwickshire 324 ahead already. Sussex will have to bat exceptionally well to avoid defeat here. Five overs to go tonight.

Maddy edges a big turner from Mushy to slip but Warwickshire reach 77 for 2 at the close.
Sangakkara 19, Anyon 1. Anyon has had a terrific day. Four wickets and two not outs. His first innings was absolutely faultless.

Warwickshire lead by 342 and have hit back brilliantly after the Durham defeat. They are in a hugely strong position although I still wonder about that follow-on decision. If it was Sussex two down tonight, the Bears would have one paw on victory. As it is, with the Bears' spin larder bare, Sussex might fancy their chances of batting out for a draw as they did here last season.

So here's how it works. The seagulls fetch up on the hotel room window sill at 5am and make enough racket to ensure everyone in the vicinity is well and truly awake. They continue in this fashion until 7.30am when the pigeons arrive, clock on and begin cooing deafeningly until every last person in the neighbourhood, if not the county, is up and about.

It's a glorious morning in Hove as Warwickshire prepare to try and press home their advantage.

Heath Streak and Chris Nash have just scored goals in their respective pre-play footy games.

With such a big advantage already Warwickshire opt for a positive approach. It costs Sangakkara his wicket in the fourth over of the morning as his attempt to hit Mushy straight lands only in the hands of Lewry at mid-on. Sanga goes for 21. Anyon then slices Mushy to point having failed, from 16 balls, to add to hs overnight single.

Mushy is turning it a long way and there's a bit of lift for Rana Naved too.
The Bears, 347 ahead, won't be too displeased to see that. 83 for 4. Trott 1 Troughton 0.

A quiet session unfolds as Warwickshire's huge lead edges upwards.

Troughton's breezy 26 ends with a nicked drive at Lewry. Loudon plays and misses at Lewry a couple of times then completes a pair by edging Mushtaq on to his pad and on to Adams at slip. Warwickshire 138 for 6. Trott 23, Ambrose 1.

The Bears 403 ahead. I reckon Sussex will consider themselves in with a shout if they chase less than 450 in a day and a half.

Lunch. Warwickshire 212 for 7. Ambrose 31, Streak 28. They lead by 477.

Trott bat-padded to silly point off Saqlain for 35 but Ambrose and Streak put in a good, effective 45-minutes work before lunch. Yet again Ambrose has batted with great sense and confidence. For the second time in the match Streak has chipped in usefully with the bat. There was a certain style to his smashing the last ball before lunch, from Saqlain, for a big straight six.

A brisk hour's batting after lunch would kill the possibility of a Sussex win. Then get winkling!

Streak sweeps at Mushy, gets a little tickle on to the pad and the ball loops gently to short leg. That ends a nifty partnership of 47 between Streak (37) and Ambrose, who is 32 not out.

223 for 8 - 488 in front. Shantry has entered the fray. A declaration surely looms if the lead reaches 500.

Chicken stroganoff. Not sure whether it was dolphin-friendly chicken.

Warwickshire all out for 238 after Shantry is caught behind off Mushtaq Ahmed (who ends with the most expensive match analysis of his career - 11 for 281).
So the equation is known. Sussex require 504 to win. That would be not only a Bears heart-breaker but also a record-breaker. The previous best fourth-innings score to win a championship game was 502 by Middlesex against Nottinghamshire (including Harold Larwood!) at Trent Bridge in 1925.

Game on. 56 overs today and then all of tomorrow for the Bears to take ten wickets.

Sussex have survived a couple of early shaves to get through the new ball unscathed. In the first over, Nash edged Anyon just short of Ambrose. Then in the fourth over, Shantry found Nash's edge but the ball flew through vacant second slip. Second slip has just been moved to gully! Shantry has been replaced by Tahir.

The highest total ever posted in the fourth innings to win a game against the Bears was 347 for 4 by Worcestershire at Worcester in 1981 so Sussex have got to blow that record well and truly apart. Sussex are also chasing the fourth highest fourth-innings winning total of all time.

Sussex 83 for 0 (21 overs). Nash 39, Montgomerie 30.

Sussex prepared a turning wicket here, hence their two spinners bowling 58 per cent of the overs and taking 80 per cent of the wickets in the two Warwickshire innings.

So Jim Troughton was on for the 16th over but a leg-stump full-toss, swung for four, and then a four-wides were not encouraging.
Shantry has just been struck for three fours in four balls by Nash.

Tea. Sussex 94 for 0; Nash 42, Montgomerie 38. Another 410 required.

BREAKING NEWS...........
East Grinstead have swooped to sign Danny Wackett from Crawley. Brighton-based jockey Matt Batchelor has travelled to Norway for some rides this weekend. Warwickshire continue to work away behind the scenes, with the ECB, the PCA and Surrey, to get Doshi registered but the bottom line is, if Surrey continue to decline to give written approval, Doshi is stuck in limbo.

Suddenly, the tranquility of a sunlit afternoon at Hove is shattered as a member of the journalistic profession, from an alleged 'quality' newspaper, emits a series of particular noxious passages of wind from the rear of the press-box.

Two reporters have fled for a walk around the ground. Two others have sought sanctuary out on the balcony. Cricket reporting is not without its drawbacks.

116 for 0. Nash 50, Montgomerie 46. Seven bowlers used in the first 30 overs.

Warwickshire's opening batsmen strike. Maddy bowls and Nash clips firmly to short mid-wicket where Westwood takes a great low one-handed catch. Nash goes for 50.

125 for 1. Montgomerie 47, Yardy 0.

Streak has not bowled, evidently in discomfort from his back.

Ah, the fresh, clean air out here in the deckchairs...

A fascinating final day awaits. Close: Sussex 160 for 1. Montgomerie 61, Yardy 18. They need another 344 from 96 overs tomorrow.
Sussex scored 35 runs from the last 23 overs. The batsmen did not give a chance as Maddy rotated his bowlers. Westwood was lucky to escape intact when, fielding short-leg to Loudon, he had a long-hop pulled full-bloodedly into his chest. No alarms for the batters though.

Can the Bears winkle out nine wickets tomorrow? Or will Sussex rewrite a few records? And will the man from the Times get his bottom seen to? We'll see. Just off to maim a few seagulls.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's a scorcher in Hove as Anyon and Loudon take up the attack for Warwickshire.

Now then will it be a case of a) the Bears finishing off the job to administer Sussex's first champo home defeat since 2004, b) a record-busting Sussex win or c) neither one thing nor the other with a close-of-play score of 327 for 6 and a draw.

I lean towards c.

Mark Greatbatch is fielding (at short leg to Loudon and mid-off to Anyon).

Ian Westwood is heading off to hospital for a scan on his ribs as the injury he sustained from that Loudon long-hop last night remains very sore. A broken rib is a possibility.

Naqaash Tahir is also off the field, complaining of a sore hip, so with Heath Streak still in discomfort with a sore back, the Bears have their work cut out to take these nine wickets.
Sussex 167 for 1.

Sussex 210 for 1. Montgomerie 78, Yardy 47.

Sussex just starting to accelerate slightly although only 38 runs in the first hour showed their first priority, understandably enough, is to secure a draw.

Greatbatch is bearing up quite well in the hot sun. Troughton has replaced Loudon at the Sea End while Streak plugs away at t'other. Tidy enough but not too penetrating.

Sussex 233 for 1. I don't want to strike a negative tone but Sussex have played this just right this morning and look like going into lunch requiring about 250 from the last two sessions which is far from straightforward but definitely on and in the press-box there is a rising sense that something historic, ie. the fourth biggest run-chase in the history of world cricket, could unfold here.

At least that's more pleasant than the rising sense of something nasty from the bottom of the Times reporter which filled the press box for much of yesterday afternoon.

Lunch. Sussex 239 for 1. Montgomerie 101, Yardy 50.

In the last over before lunch, from Loudon, Montgomerie reached his first champo ton since April (291 balls, 11 fours) and Yardy reached his 50 (153 balls, six fours).

Sussex require 265 from 64 overs. If Warwickshire don't pick up a wicket or two quite soon after lunch, things could get a bit twitchy for the Bears.

The breakthrough arrives straight after lunch as Loudon turns one sharply to find Yardy's edge and Maddy accepts a sharp catch at slip.

Sussex 252 for 2. Montgomerie 110, Goodwin 0. 252 runs or eight wickets required from 60 overs.

A large quantity of white feathers at extra-cover suggest there was a seagull casualty overnight. Ah well, one fewer to wake people up in the middle of the night...

Loudon propels the ball from a distance of approximately 22 yards from the end beyond which the sea is lapping serenely to shore and Goodwin attempts to cut the ball and succeeds but gets it much too fine and chops the ball into the hands of Maddy at slip.

262 for 3. Montgomerie 114, Adams 1.

Adams essays a rather wild drive at Loudon and inside-edges on to pad and then stumps.

Sussex 274 for 4. Montgomerie 123, Hodd 2.

Loudon, having not taken a championship wicket since July 11, has just ripped out three for 12 in 30 balls.

Troughton. at the other end, has slipped into the groove too and is troubling the batsmen.

Loudon takes a rest after a spell of 16-3-37-3 that brought Warwickshire right back into the game. Troughton switches ends to replace him at the Sea End as Darren Maddy continues to delay taking the new ball. Anyon is on at the Cromwell Road End.

Sussex 300 for 4. Montgomerie 136, Hodd 12. Greatbatch doing a sterling stint at third man.

204 runs or six wickets to win fom 41 overs.

Tea. Sussex 317 for 4. Montgomerie 151, Hodd 14. They need 187 from 33 overs.
If the Bears take a wicket or two soon after tea Sussex would surely call off the chase but, if they don't, the good-sized crowd could be in for a thriller here.
Warwickshire have persevered pretty well in the circumstances. We all know the bowling lacks potency but, to be fair, they are without Tahir (sore hip) while Streak is not fully fit.

Westwood's injury is understood not to be a fracture but his torso is badly bruised and very painful.

Looks like Sussex have settled for a draw. Loudon is back on and probing away but Montgomerie continues on his implacable way.

351 for 4. Montgomerie 176, Hodd 21. 156 needed from 24.2 overs.

This has been a fascinating contest played in front of good-sized, sun-soaked crowds but it appears that we will not be having a thrilling denouement.
Unless Loudon and Anyon can strike hard in the next over or two...

Sussex 363 for 4. Montgomerie 181, Hodd 27.

141 needed from 19 overs

I just wonder, if Sussex are still only four down with ten overs to go, they might have a bit of a tilt at this target. Wright and Naved still to come and they can hit.

It seems crazy to do so much of the hard work and then not try to see the job through.

Sussex have got us a bit baffled in the press box. They have done so much of the hard work and have now made themselves just about safe from defeat yet are allowing the run-rate required to edge up and up. It was just over four per over, now its more than ten.

"That's why championship cricket is its own worst enemy - so conservative," rages one scribe.
"Neither side are trying to win," fumes another.

It does seem odd. Sussex 378 for 4. Need 126 from 12.

Montgomerie holes out to Shantry at deep mid-wicket off Loudon and, after nine hours batting, perishes for 195, agonisingly short of a maiden double-century. 111 needed off 5!

What is it about the mentality of championship cricket? Teams bat with endless adventure and aggression in one-day cricket but so often championship games are allowed to peter out. Sussex needed 144 from 20 overs with six wickets intact but chose to just plod on to a draw.
Shane Warne might have his faults but you can see why he finds some teams bafflingly negative.

With Sussex 405 for 5, it's called a draw and the Sussex supporters give their team a very warm ovation from the field. Evidently they see today as a valiant rearguard action from their chaps, which of course it was, but I reckon the way it panned out it was a bit of a wasted opportunity too.

As for the Bears, no win but a much more spirited display than at Durham. They remain on the outskirts of the relegation fray though and face a huge game against Kent at Edgbaston next.
Westwood will have a scan on his abdomen on Monday. He must be a doubt for Tuesday.

The seagulls who had done their level best to ensure that all visitors from Warwickshire to lovely Hove did not sleep one second beyond 5am on any morning had one last fiendish card to play.
As Darren Maddy chatted, post-match, to reporters on the benches outside the dressing-rooms there was a 'splat' on the captain's shirt.

Far above, a bad bird, bitter, frustrated and angry at Sussex's failure to harvest the expected win, made good its escape....

ONLY numbskulls would argue that police should hurry their investigations into major crimes.

Forensic experts must, of course, be given plenty of time to comb the scene for clues, even when it causes inconvenience and irritation to others.

WE CAN only truly know who we are if we know where we come from.

In a multi-cultural city such as this, that can mean understanding the countries which shaped the thoughts and beliefs of our parents or grandparents.

Warwickshire face the vital game with Kent with massively depleted seam-bowling ranks. Definitely out: Anyon (hamstring), Tahir (hip), Groenewald (hamstring), Carter (due to have a knee scan tomorrow) and Brown (achilles). Streak is in squad but suffering a sore back.
Alfonso Thomas, meanwhile, has his work permit but still needs clearance from the United Cricket Board of South Africa. The battle to get Doshi registered goes on but without movement - chances are that battle won't be won this season.
Westwood also out with bruised ribs. With Kent needing points even more desperately than Warwickshire, the Bears might not be too devastated if the expected rain arrives.

DO NOT be too alarmed by West Midlands Police's declaration that it would be happy to recruit support officers as young as 16.

Not all mature people are wise and not all teenagers are callow creatures prone to make foolish decisions.

THE terrible bloodshed and turmoil that followed the partition of India and Pakistan 60 years ago is long past.

Today these are two independent countries that, despite their differences, largely co-exist in peace and which play important parts on the world stage.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's raining heavily and there's standing water on the outfield. It looks a no-play-today scenario but for two factors - a better forecast for later on and previous excellent mopping-up operations by the Edgbaston groundstaff this season.

No team news beyond that Alfonso Thomas's clearance is through and he will play. No progress on Doshi - and it's looking more and more likely that there won't be any. Doshi junior's illustrious Bears career could enter the history books as a brief outing as sub fielder and drinks monitor at Hove.

Still drizzling, although brightening up slightly. The standing water has diminished.

At least nobody has passed wind in the press-box.

Memories stirring, instead, of the thrilling John Player League game at Edgbaston in 1978 when, in a ten-over thrash, Warwickshire, chasing Glamorgan's paltry 54-7, needed six off the last over but Alan Wilkins dismissed David Smith, Eddie Hemmings and Chris Maynard and conceded just three runs and the Bears ended on 52 for 7.

Ladies and gentlemen, it has been called off for the day.

FROM one end of the country to the other – and often abroad, too – shopping malls have the same names above their shiny doors.

Giant retailers, able to afford high rents and rates and with the bargaining power to demand the keenest prices from suppliers, dominate.

HEED the words of Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy when he says that parents must strive to stop under-age drinking.

Drinks companies have a responsibility not to make strong booze that appeals to the young.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. With a forecast for sunshine and showers there should be some cricket today but certainly not at 11am. A series of torrential showers in the last two hours have soaked the ground although the sun is breaking through and mopping up is underway. Perhaps a start after lunch if there's no more rain.

What all this lost time means, of course, is that really Warwickshire only have to bat well once to be pretty sure of not losing the game - which would be a solid step towards avoiding relegation.

Steady drizzle is falling, likely to elongate the wait for cricket. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Warwickshire's beavering goes on to strengthen for this season and beyond. The Doshi deal might well be called off for good this week but the Bears' interest in Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Mushtaq Ahmed (Sussex), Ant Botha (Derbyshire), Ryan McLaren (Kent) and Niall O'Brien (Northamptonshire) remains active.

But how come, in these scientifically advanced days, that it is impossible - absolutely impossible - to get weetabix out of a box without scattering bits all over the place?

It's brightening up a lot and the groundstaff are out there working like beavers, not in that they are building for themselves a cosy lodge created from severed branches and mud, but simply in terms of industry-levels as they strive to make the ground fit for play.

A lot of water has been shifted, although there's plenty more still to go. If there's no more rain, possible mid-afternoon start, perhaps. It's what Ernie Wise would have wanted.

The sun is shining. As me dear old nan would have said, "Well...I'll go to the foot of our stairs"!

The groundstaff have beavered away, all the covers were off, the pitch was marked out and the sun was shining. All set fair...then it starts to rain again!

Another heavy shower just sets it all back a bit longer. Very frustrating...most of all for Kent. Still haven't got as far as tossing a coin or naming teams.

Instead of Niall O'Brien, why don't they sign Niall Bailey? He'd be able to help 'em build the new pavilion.

...it's off for the day again. Unless somebody plays exceptionally well or exceptionally badly tomorrow and Friday it's just a plod for bonus points.

THOUSANDS of A-level students are celebrating their success and, inevitably, the party poopers are glowering in the background.

The examinations, they complain, are easier. No where near as tough as they were in our time, they add.

WELL done, Wetherspoons, for listening to local concerns over plans to sell booze and play live music until 3.30am at the national pub chain's premises in Birmingham's Hurst Street.

The company sought compromise rather than trying to trample over the views of the Gay Village Association, residents in nearby apartments and the National Trust, who own the historic back-to-back houses near the bar.

Glory be. The sun is shining, the roller is on the pitch, chaffinches are frolicking on the outfield, the players are warming up and we should get a prompt start.

So, a two-day game. Is there any way this can be anything other than a trawl for bonus points? Neither side can afford to lose while, for the Bears, the idea of winning the toss and heading for full batting points at their leisure, thus making themselves impregnable by tonight, must surely appeal.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Warwickshire have achieved their number one objective - they won the toss and will bat.
Thomas makes his debut while Daggett comes in (Tahir and Anyon are injured). Further up the order the injured Westwood is replaced by Parker.
Good luck to Luke. But I think a case could have been made for the inclusion of Powell (in the runs for the 2nds and capable of playing long innings).

Sangakkara strides out to open with Maddy.

The sound of drilling from a short distance away is not doing much for the aesthetics of watching cricket but anyone who delights in highly-skilled batting can only enjoy Sangakkara's work. His touch and timing has been lovely from ball one on what looks a good batting track.

Maddy, however, edges the last ball of Saggers' fifth over to Jones and perishes for 8.
Warwickshire 31 for 1 (10 overs). Sangakkara 21, Trott 0.

Saggers and Arafat bowling so far. McLaren and Malinga aren't a bad second wave in waiting.

Sangakkara, having batted beautifully, gets a corker from Saggers, angled across the left-hander but also nipping further away, and he edges to Van Jaarsveld at second slip.

Sanga goes for 26. Saggers 2 for 20 from 7 overs.

Warwickshire 40 for 2 (14 overs). Trott 2, Troughton 0.

Trott's foot movement is suspect as he drives at Arafat and edges to second slip. Out for 10 - that's ten innings in all cricket without getting past 20 for Trott. That England call-up seems a world away now.

A tinge of concern here for the Bears with the ball swinging around.
50 for 3 (15 overs). Troughton 2, Loudon 0.

The first free public library in Britain was opened in Airdrie, Scotland.

Troughton, on 8, inside-edges McLaren but Jones fails to cling on to the chance, changing direction to his right. Stirs memories of Canterbury last month when, with Warwickshire engaged in a desperate rearguard action, Troughton edged Cook and Jones could not hold on. That miss probably cost Kent victory as it delayed them getting at the Bears' tail in the second innings before rain arrived.

Warwickshire 79 for 3 (21.2 overs). Troughton 15, Loudon 14.
Rain stopped play for five minutes but only a passing shower and they were soon back on.

Right, sorry about the late posting but popped over to get me snout in the salad counter (Thing-you-do-not-need-or-want-to-know no. 45b).
Anyway, the flawed batting continued as Loudon wafted at McLaren and edged into the cordon then, from the last ball before lunch, Ambrose pushed forward to a good one from Malinga and Van Jaarsveld at second slip duly took his fourth catch of the session.

Lunch. Warwickshire 94 for 5 (27 overs). Troughton (dropped on 8) 22.
The Bears might be reflecting upon those two washed-out days with a degree of relief.

Malinga drops short a couple of times and is hammered stylishly to the point boundary by Troughton.

Troughton and Parker, not without some discomfort against the moving ball, add 38 for the sixth wicket but then Troughton leans forward, bat tucked behind pad, to McLaren and is adjudged lbw for 36. Parker is digging in valiantly without looking hugely secure.

Warwickshire 134 for 6 (34 overs). Parker 13, Streak 1.

Streak, on 15, essays a big drive at Saggers and edges to Tredwell in the slips. That was 166 for seven and it could have gotten worse straight away when Parker edged Saggers but Van Jaarsveld just failed to pull off his fifth catch, one-handed to his right.

Parker is battling stoically, interrupting solid defence to play one handsome cover drive off Saggers. Thomas's first scoring shot for the Bears was a debonair clip off his legs for two.

Warwickshire 184 for 7 (49 overs). Parker 36, Thomas 8.

A fifth catch for Van Jaarsveld as Parker plays away from his body at McLaren and edges to second slip for 49. Next ball, Shantry is plum lbw to an inswinger.

Parker and Thomas, total strangers surprisingly brought together in the Bears' cause, showed plenty of fortitude. Parker gritted it out well while Thomas has batted like a very capable number 9, lifting Tredwell for a handsome straight four.
Warwickshire 212 for 9 (58 overs). Thomas 20, Daggett 3 (having survived, just!, the hat-trick ball).

Tea. Warwickshire 213 all out.
Daggett caught by gauntlet-wielding maestro Jones off Van Jaarsveld for three, leaving Thomas unbeaten on 21 after 56 balls of worthy resistance.

A tatty collective effort from the Bears. Eight catches behind the wicket suggest there was some poor shot-selection.

If Kent are 150-odd for not many at the close they will hit their pits tonight full of optimism.

Warwickshire 44 for 0 (nine overs). Key 23, Denly 19.

Shantry has just conceded a three and three fours from four successive balls.

It's not looking entirely promising and there is a rising undertone of impatience detectable among the spectators.

Shantry 4-0-31-0, replaced by Daggett.

The breakthrough arrives. Streak sends down a full-length ball outside off-peg, Denly drives and edges and Loudon takes a superb catch, one-handed diving low to his left, in the gully.

82 for 1 (22 overs). Key 44, Van Jaarsveld 0.

The redoubtable Maddy has brought himself on.

If there was more than just tomorrow left the Bears would be in a bit of a pickle.

Kent have to score extremely quickly to get into a position to force an unlikely win here so, in that context, Streak's current spell (one for three in six overs) is highly significant.

Maddy, too, has reeled in the run-rate with five overs for six runs.

Kent 87 for 1 (28 overs). Key 45, Van Jaarsveld 4.

By the way, which is the only English (hem-hem) racecourse ever visited by Margaret Thatcher?

Close of play. Kent 108 for 1 (41 overs). Key 56, Van Jaarsveld 13.

Maddy reeled in the run-rate late on with 11 overs for ten runs which, allied to Streak's eight overs for ten, means Kent probably have too much to do to force victory tomorrow.

Still, you never know. Even taking the injuries into account this was another poor day at the office for Warwickshire. Kent, let's not forget, are one from bottom in Division One and were beaten by Surrey inside two days last week.

CANNON Hill is Birmingham's emerald jewel and should be cherished as such.

Claims that it is being neglected while the city council concentrates its efforts on plans for a new multi-million pound park at Eastside are disturbing.

THOUGH Brum's famous for its parks, it isn't well known for its beaches. That may well change.

Two specially created beaches in the city centre this summer have already – when the weather pernits – been attracting visitors.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Play should start on time - there is grey cloud around but it's quite high. So, will Kent go for the jugular and try to force victory against fragile-looking Warwickshire? If so, they would have to bat like the clappers this morning.

Much more likely, the visitors will aim for full bonus points from a draw, in which case the Bears would have got away with being outclassed by Kent for the second time in a month. We'll see.

How over-rated is Elvis Presley, by the way?

At 10.59am a few spots of rain were falling - you couldn't call them a "shower" - but the relative enthusiasm of the two teams was nicely encapsulated by the fact that Kent's batsmen reached the crease before Warwickshire's team had left the pavilion!

Streak and Thomas take up the bowling. Daggett is off the field so the Bears are, for reasons still to be ascertained, an option down for the moment.

Kent 114 for 1. Key 56, Van Jaarsveld 17. 99 behind.

Daggett has gone for a scan on a sore intercostal muscle. That's an injury which tends to hang around so the prognosis is unlikely to be good. Another seam option bites the dust.

Meanwhile, is appears that Kent haven taken the expected option and are aiming simply to achieve full bonus points which would lift them above Surrey and out of the relegation zone. They have added only 34 runs from 14 overs this morning. 142 for 1. Key 75, Van Jaarsveld 25.

The Surrey match at Edgbaston on September 6-9 is looking rather large.

Key reaches 100 from 203 balls with 18 fours. It's his 33rd first-class century although there's some debate in the press-box as to whether this constitutes a first-class bowling attack.

Kent 175 or 1 (38 behind). Key 104, Van Jaarsveld 29. (Good news, at least, for Emma's fantasy team!)

The Edgbaston faithful are watching with gritted teeth and rising dissatisfaction.

Warwickshire 213. Kent 216 for 1 (Key 129, Van Jaarsveld 43).
This is almost surreal. You couldn't call it a sporting 'contest'. Kent (who are in the relegation zone, let's not forget) are motoring on without a care in the world. Two fours by Key from Loudon's opening over raised the century partnership.
Everyone just seems so resigned to what's happening out there. It's all so incredibly flat.

A Bears fan in front of the press-box is reading the Sun. First he checked out 'Mystic Meg' for any sign of hope for his beloved team. Then he turned over to 'Clinic Confidential'...

Lunch. Kent 240 for 1. Key 133, Van Jaarsveld 63.

So flat and uninspired have Warwickshire looked that the consensus from the press-box is that if Kent come back out and give it a thrash for hour and get to 400 quickly then they could then pull out and give the Bears a very uncomfortable last session and a half.

Kent 332 for 3 (Walker 29, Dexter 14)
Thomas removed Key, caught at mid-wicket by Parker for 153, and then accepted a return catch from Van Jaarsveld (85) who was deceived by a slower delivery. The two wickets fell close together, since when it has been the expected slow plod for bonus points.

Three of us hacks have just met for lunch with Colin Povey and John Claughton.

Mark Greatbatch, it appears, enjoys their full backing and is going nowhere.

Matthew Walker lifts Alfonso Thomas to point to give the debutant 3 for 63 so far.

371 for 4. Dexter 36, Jones 0.

Twenty-nine runs to go and then this laborious, joyless day's cricket can be put to bed.

Warwickshire 213. Kent 400 for four. Match drawn.

"A bit of a shocker" said the man from the Times of today's offering of "entertainment".

I'm on hols now so won't be blogging on Sunday or from Scarborough. Cheers for now.

LEE Hughes has served his time. He has a right to earn a living.

But there is understandable unease that while those who were victims of his appalling behaviour continue to bear the consequences, Hughes will enjoy high wages and adulation by reviving his football career with Oldham.

AS DRIVERS and bus passengers endure yet more delays in their journeys along the congested roads of the West Midlands, there seems little room for optimism.

Lynne Jones, MP for Selly Oak, is right to criticism what she perceives as a lack of leadership among local councils over measures to get this region's roads moving.

IT IS a row that refuses to go away.

The proposals to downgrade City Hospital while increasing facilities at Sandwell Hospital has caused unease among patients, medics and politicians.

EACH year there are tears and smiles among the audience at the event to honour the winners of the Local Heroes awards that this newspaper runs with the Pallasades.

Their stories of courage and selflessness, often in the face of the most challenging circumstances, are inspirational.

THEY prey on the most vulnerable in society – the desperate, the poor and the foolish.

Loan sharks are parasites who feed off the misfortune of those who are struggling for a foothold on the ladder to survival.

BRUM'S really bouncing.

We are developing a reputation for hosting successful events – whether they are sporting tussles, shows, exhibitions, conferences or political gatherings.

CONGRATULATIONS to all those teenagers who today got the GCSE grades for which they had hoped and commiserations to those who did not.

More than 600,000 youngsters across the country received their results today – helping them plot their future path in life.

IT'S a question that perplexes rock fans. When is a legendary band not the legendary band it purports to be?

All sorts of groups have gone on tour bearing the names that were massive back in their heydays, but with line-ups that differ drastically from those that took to the stage originally.

THE civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is right to say that equality, prosperity and a strong sense of right and wrong are needed if we are to break the destructive cycle of crime and drug abuse that threatens to engulf our cities.

The Rev Jackson's words seem all the more potent in the wake of the death of Rhys Jones, the 11-year-old schoolboy shot dead as he played near his Liverpool home.

WE ARE delighted that the arthritic collie Grace is recovering after becoming the first dog in the country to have knee transplant surgery.

No pet should have to suffer pain needlessly and owners should, of course, be free to spend their money as they see fit.

THOUGH they are members of a profession that is there to care for the sick, some doctors show scant regard for the financial health of their patients.

There can be no justification for those GPs who encourage patients to call high-cost phone lines to make appointments.

SOME cannot pay. Others simply will not pay. But one thing is clear. The £80 million council tax that is owed in Birmingham is unacceptable.

And it is even more unacceptable that some of the arrears date back a decade.

During Warwickshire's recent visit to Hove, seagulls were to the fore - making the mother of all rackets from 4am every day and dropping their loads with military precision on any chosen target, not least Darren Maddy during his post-match press conference.
I suggested then they are on the list of things that serve no useful purpose whatsoever. Well, I can reveal they also bear grudges. This morning I looked out of the window in Frinton-upon-Sea and my humble Ford Fiesta was not so much covered with seagull evidence as buried in it.
Four of us, armed with spades, were required to clean things up.
Seagulls. Pointless, dirty...and malicious.

THE bravado and inexperience often found among young drivers is a dangerous combination. Add alcohol or drugs and it can be a lethal mix.

Twenty-two per cent of 17 and 18 year old motorists in this region have driven while under the influence of drink or drugs, according to a survey.

THE spectre of bags of rotting rubbish lying uncollected on Birmingham's streets will focus minds as the city council and trades unions sit down to discuss a new pay structure.

There is no doubt that the new system will hit some employees hard, with unions claiming that their wages will drop by £12,000 a year.

TEN long years might have dulled the sense of loss, but today's anniversary of the death of Diana will rekindle some of the emotions that swept through the country in 1997.

For a few weeks the country was bound like never before as people shared their grief and bewilderment that a life so full of promise and glamour should end so suddenly, so tragically, so needlessly.

Just how are we supposed to guess the interest in Diana's death, 10 years on? Should newspapers print a single page on the memorial, or front to back with memories, messages, pictures and so on? Whatever we do, readers will criticise. Either we "won't have shown enough respect" by being too "stingy" with space, or we "have gone well over the top on an outpouring of emotion that is no longer there". Problems, problems... don't we just love 'em? The answer, of course, is blowing in the wind (a candle in the wind?), which in layman's terms is somewhere in between. See tonight's Mail and you will see a strong presence (though not the main presence) on page 1; live news of the memorial on page 4, and then a nine page tribut in words and pictures starting on page 7. Did we get it right? Take a look and let me know!