WARWICKSHIRE’S Olly Hannon-Dalby admitted the Bears were ‘praying for rain’ on the final day of their County Championship match with Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.
And they got their wish as a dogged partnership between Ed Barnard and Hannon-Dalby secured a draw on a day hit by bad weather.
Warwickshire, trailing by 274 on first innings, entered the final day on 163 for six, second time around, with the visitors four wickets away from victory.
But rain prevented play until 3.45pm, leaving Notts’ bowlers just 36 overs to bowl on a flattening pitch.
Overnight pair Barnard (40 not out, 149 balls) and Hannon-Dalby (seven not out, 62 balls) blocked their way to safety as Warwickshire ended on 181 for six.
Hannon-Dalby told the county’s official website: “We were praying for rain all day really, but when it cleared up we had to get out there with an obvious job.
“It was nice to be out there with Ed Barnard who’s a very cool, calm and collected character and it was good that we could bat out the day.
“First Division cricket is incredibly tough with some great teams.
“No-one rolls over and we were glad that we did not roll over. However, we are aware that we were outplayed here. With bat and ball, Notts have been better than us. Credit to them, they batted really well and bowled really well.
“We’ve got stuff to work on and now we have week off before we go up to Headingley against Yorkshire but we’re glad that we have scrapped it out and got a draw. We are undefeated in this first little period of three games which is great.
“It’s a bit of a new look side with some young guys and they’ve shown what they can do, notably Michael Booth who’s a top human being, a lovely lad, and it’s great to see the hard work he’s put in over the last few years coming to fruition. He’s doing very well and I’m delighted for him.”
Warwickshire were relieved to get the draw. Nottinghamshire’s frustration, after seizing control with some brilliant bowling on the second day, was deep, though they did not help themselves with pedestrian batting on the third morning.
With heavy rain always likely on day four, there was a clear case for pressing home their advantage in a more proactive fashion and trying to force victory before the final day.
Notts’ gamble on the weather allowing them sufficient time did not succeed, as Barnard and Hannon-Dalby ‘parked the bus’.
After play finally resumed, just three runs came from the first 14 overs.
The seventh-wicket pair survived 20 overs with few alarms when Nottinghamshire had their last throw of the dice – a new ball with 16 overs remaining. By that stage, however, the dark clouds had rolled back in and the floodlights were on.
Only four balls were possible with the new ball before the umpires took the players off for bad light, never to return.
Warwickshire came away with a draw in a match in which they were second best.
