Warwickshire and Essex set up fascinating finish

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Essex will need 195 more runs on Monday to win a low-scoring thriller

ECB Reporters Network | 19/04/2026 at 20:10

Edgbaston (day three of four): Warwickshire 190 & 220, Essex 205 & 11-0 - Essex need 195 runs to win with 10 wickets remaining

A fascinating final day awaits in the Rothesay County Championship at Edgbaston where Essex will resume on 11 without loss, chasing a target of 206 to beat Warwickshire.

On the third day on this rain-affected game, Essex took a slender lead of 15 when they extended their first innings to 205 thanks to Simon Harmer's 48. Nathan Gilchrist took 4 for 40, his best figures for Warwickshire, and Ethan Bamber 3 for 44.

Warwickshire then made 220 second time around as Beau Webster unfurled a majestic 91. Sam Cook took 5 for 58 and Shane Snater 3 for 15 but a tenth-wicket stand of 32 between Gilchrist and Bamber evened a low-scoring contest right up.

Essex are slight favourites to win, though they have plenty to do on a pitch offering some assistance to seamers. It is an engrossing contest which supports the argument that cricket is most entertaining when conditions offer the bowlers some (but not too much) assistance.