Yorkshire spin towards drop

Warwickshire 601-9 dec Yorkshire 261-6

Yorkshire's torment continued here as Warwickshire ruthlessly built on their dominance of this match. Faced with the need to score 400 plus to stand a chance of collecting the 11 points necessary to keep First Division survival a mathematical possibility, the ousted county champions declined to 261 for 6 against the home side's slow bowlers, from where it will take an extraordinary performance from them to avoid defeat let alone achieve a draw.

There was much for the Birmingham crowd to enjoy. Dominic Ostler, a batsman never quite able to claim centre stage in 13 seasons at Warwickshire, slept so well on his unbeaten 126 overnight that he was able to continue as if uninterrupted.

Later, once Yorkshire had been subjected to the discomfort of conceding 601, they watched two of the county's developing spin bowlers, Mark Wagh and Jamie Spires, work through the card as Yorkshire's reply, once rattling along at six an over, slowed to a painful crawl.

Ostler had been reminded not to overlook his responsibilities in an inexperienced side, intent as Warwickshire are on claiming the £50,000 prize for second place in the Championship. The words had come from Bob Woolmer, the county's departing coach, and were well heeded. Ostler dispensed punishment with imperious confidence. Steve Kirby suffered most, conceding 161 in his 30 overs.

Nick Thornicroft was hit for a six and two fours in an over by Ostler, who then steered Gary Fellows to third man to complete the second double-hundred of his career, passing his previous best of 208 and reaching 225, with 40 fours and a six off 240 deliveries, before tickling Richard Dawson to the wicketkeeper.

Keith Piper's unbeaten 64 bolstered the total. Yorkshire, needing 452 to avoid the follow-on, hared off in pursuit, losing only Vic Craven in reaching 120 in the 20th over. Anthony McGrath matched the pace of Matthew Elliott but, after the Australian had struck two sixes and two fours in one Wagh over, the balance tilted Warwickshire's way.

Wagh trapped McGrath in front, Spires bowled Elliott and later had Fellows caught at short extra and Craig White at slip, as well as seeing Blakey dropped on 11. Yorkshire's fate will probably be known today.