Marshall frustrates Warwickshire

Warwickshire’s hopes of opening up a bigger lead at the top of LV County Championship Division Two were blocked by Hamish Marshall as Gloucestershire escaped with a draw at Edgbaston.

In a stubborn follow-up to his first innings century, the former New Zealand Test batsman dug in for 62 and put on 103 in 34 overs with wicketkeeper Stephen Snell (54 not out) on a rain-shortened final day.

The fourth-wicket partnership protected Gloucestershire from the full impact of their fitness problems and helped them clear of Glamorgan at the bottom of the table.

A dislocated thumb meant Alex Gidman was only available to bat in an emergency and Australian Marcus North had to delay his appearance because of the time he was off he field with a back spasm on the third day.

Having started their second innings needing 192 to avoid an innings defeat, injury-hit Gloucestershire gradually dispersed the threat and closed at 189 for four after a 135-minute interruption in the afternoon.

Hamish Marshall is dropped at slip during his innings of 62

Chris Woakes (3-30) caused a late scare when bowling Marshall for his 14th wicket in three matches since coming into the championship line-up when the two counties drew at King’s School a month ago.

When Gloucestershire resumed at 36 without loss, they lost their first three wickets for the addition of 24 runs.

With Jon Lewis padded up in the pavilion, one more dismissal at this stage would have exposed the lower order to an impressive new-ball attack.

Woakes produced a superb delivery to have Kadeer Ali caught behind and the pressure was building on Gloucestershire when Ireland opener Will Porterfield gave chances from successive balls.

Ant Botha could not hold an edge to second slip off Woakes but Jonathan Trott, at first slip, made no mistake in the following over from Chris Martin.

Birmingham-born Woakes then knocked out Chris Taylor’s off stump with an inswinger in a spell of 8-4-14-2 which showed why the teenager has quickly become a key member of the pace attack.

When Woakes and Martin took their first rest, Neil Carter also made the batsmen work hard for runs, but Marshall and the admirable Snell, who completed two half-centuries in the match, were in no mood to surrender.