Warwickshire steamroller Gloucestershire inside two days at Edgbaston

Gloucestershire's batting folded pitifully for the second time in successive days as they followed their first innings 127 with 103 all out

^{Will Rhodes was among the runs for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire}

Edgbaston: Gloucestershire 127 & 103, Warwickshire 277 - Warwickshire won by an innings & 47 runs

Scorecard

Warwickshire emphatically reasserted themselves at the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two by crushing Gloucestershire by an innings and 47 runs inside two days at Edgbaston.

Gloucestershire's batting folded pitifully for the second time in successive days as they followed their first innings 127 with 103 all out.

The home seam attack, led by Ryan Sidebottom with 4-42, ruthlessly exploited some feckless batting to fully exploit a dominant position earned by the skilful work of opening batsman Will Rhodes.

The former Yorkshire player struck 137 from 233 balls with 16 fours, a superb innings spanning five and a half hours in overcast, seamer-friendly conditions, to lift Warwickshire to 277.

His third Championship century of the season underpinned an important win for the Division Two leaders. Defeat by Middlesex at Lord's in their previous match had allowed the pursuers to close in, but this two-day win put the chasing pack back under pressure.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES

Following a dreadful all-round performance on the first day, Gloucestershire were at least much improved with the ball on the second and took four wickets in the morning session. After Warwickshire resumed on 170 for two, Craig Miles dismissed Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott in five balls. It was fine bowling as the 24-year-old jagged one back in to knock out Bell's off and middle stumps then moved one away to find Trott outside-edge.

Rhodes's application was faultless but partners came and went.

Sam Hain started with two sumptuous drives but only reached 25 (51 balls) before lifting Chris Liddle to point. Tim Ambrose sliced Miles to first slip before Rhodes was finally uprooted, bowled on the charge by spinner George Drissell.

Jeetan Patel was bowled by Matt Taylor then Miles completed his 12th first-class five-for by taking a return catch from Olly Hannon-Dalby and having Sidebottom caught in the gully next ball. He finished with 5-69.

Gloucestershire's second innings was soon damaged when Miles Hammond cut Sidebottom to gully. It then lurched from 27 for one to 27 for four as three wickets fell in nine balls. Chris Dent edged Sidebottom to second slip before Keith Barker had James Bracey caught behind and induced Gareth Roderick to play on.

Ryan Higgins edged Sidebottom behind and debutant Ben Charlesworth, having played correctly for five from 31 balls, edged Hannon-Daly to second slip just before tea.

Just before tea, Benny Howell (32, 36 balls) had his off-stump flattened by Chris Wright and the end came quickly in the final session as Sidebottom bowled Miles, Matt Taylor hoiked Wright to long leg and Drissell edged Rhodes to second slip.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network