The weather played an influential role on day two of Nottinghamshire’s Vitality County Championship encounter with Warwickshire, as less than 35 overs of play were had on a gloomy day in the West Midlands.
Little over an hour of play was had in the morning session before dark and damp conditions took hold, and the two sides only managed eight balls after lunch before a second stoppage was taken.
Ben Duckett clinching his double century was the highlight of day two, biding his time with Dillon Pennington at the other end as the England international sealed his 200 from the 230th delivery faced. The pair put on a 44-run partnership for the ninth wicket, earning the Green and Golds their fourth batting bonus point as they reached 400/8 after starting the day on 367/8.
After a composed and highly mature innings at the crease, Duckett’s dominant performance was finally brought to a close as Dan Mousley clattered his stumps, before Pennington was caught at the boundary to end Notts’ innings on 400.
Pennington and Dane Paterson then starred with the ball after the change of sides, heaping immense pressure on the Warwickshire batting order - alongside returning bowler Olly Stone - as the top three were all dismissed in the first 10.1 overs of the hosts’ turn with the bat.
Rob Yates intended to set the tone for the Bears, hitting Stone for back-to-back boundaries in the opening two deliveries, but the bowling attack made the most of the more favourable overcast conditions as Pennington made Notts’ first breakthrough, guided into the palms of Will Young at first slip by in-form talisman Alex Davies who departed for six.
Only eight balls were managed after a slightly early lunch was taken, but eventually with some patience play was able to resume. And, before long, Will Rhodes was the next to go as the Green and Golds continued to find joy with the ball. Pennington struck his rear leg pad as the umpire raised his finger for lbw, and in an instant Yates too was gone after being caught smartly in behind by Clarke to get Paterson his first wicket of the contest.
A combination of rain and bad light then meant that tea was prolonged, and there remained hope of a restart when the prospect of resumption at 5.30pm was considered.
But the weather ultimately prevailed, the abandonment of the remainder of the day called at just before 6pm, Warwickshire finishing the day on 71/3 after an important recovery from Dan Mousley and Ed Barnard at the crease.
With the forecast for day three looking poor, the two sides may be in for a substantial wait before any further overs can be played.