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Trott gives Bears the edge

Warwicks 217 & 347 Yorkshire 274 & 57-1

Jon Culley
Monday 12 April 2010 00:00 BST
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(GETTY IMAGES)

The career of Oliver Hannon-Dalby was always going to be followed with fascination simply for bringing a double-barrelled presence to the Yorkshire dressing room but the 20-year-old graduate from the county's academy can now add some substance to his story after registering figures of 5-68 in only his second first-class match.

The Halifax-born seam bowler launched his quintet with the wicket of England batsman Jonathan Trott and quickly added those of Tim Ambrose and Chris Woakes in the space of 10 balls. Neil Carter became his fourth victim, after which he had Jim Troughton dropped twice before an lbw verdict against Naqaash Tahir, the last Warwickshire man to fall, enabled him to lead Yorkshire off the field.

At 6ft 8ins, Hannon-Dalby can rub shoulders with the new England sensation Steve Finn. Delivering the ball from such height has obvious benefits but finding the control to use them to advantage is not always easy. His only previous first-class appearance, in 2008, yielded one wicket (albeit that of Mark Ramprakash) and he spent the whole of 2009 playing in the second XI. His ambition of winning a first-team place by the end of this summer is clearly ahead of schedule.

Nonetheless, thanks principally to Trott's 88, Ian Bell's 54 and Troughton's 78, Warwickshire may just have the edge in a contest that has been finely balanced throughout. Yorkshire need 291 to win, which could be a difficult assignment given that the pitch here, though on the slow side, is still offering some encouragement for the bowlers. Naqaash Tahir struck the first blow for Warwickshire when he slanted one across to find the edge of Joe Sayers' bat but it may be the leg-spin of Imran Tahir that proves crucial in the final analysis.

Bell and Trott, looking to find some form ahead of the international summer, did not do too badly. Bell, who had the option to miss this match, looked in good order on his 28th birthday, although after cutting Ajmal Shahzad for his eighth four he undid his good work by hitting the next delivery straight into the hands of Adam Lyth at backward point.

Trott – on his wedding anniversary – struck 15 boundaries before edging to Anthony McGrath at second slip but it was Troughton whose runs may prove the most important, given that Warwickshire must look beyond their England duo. McGrath dropped him on 50, Jonathan Bairstow at 57; they may be costly misses.

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