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Not content with the 490 they struck on Friday, Warwickshire opted to continue their dismantling of Durham’s attack at Edgbaston, declaring two runs short of 700. The Bears captain Alex Davies was unable to convert his double hundred into a triple, but his predecessor Will Rhodes went to an unbeaten 178 as every member of Warwickshire’s top three celebrated a three-figure score in the county’s second-highest first-class total. There was less fortune for their No 4, Ed Barnard, bowled for one by a fine, ripping delivery from Callum Parkinson. Last year’s Division Two champions finished the day trailing by 520, but with the consolation of an Alex Lees century incoming in the morning.
Essex, who also put up 400 on day one, settled for 530 before their declaration against Kent, Matt Critchley top-scoring with 151 not out at Chelmsford. But the hosts missed their headline seamer Sam Cook, out due to a thigh niggle, as Daniel Bell-Drummond celebrated his second hundred of the week and Ben Compton his first of the season. Jaydn Denly took his maiden first-class wicket for the visitors and could well bat alongside his uncle, Joe, on Sunday.