County Championship: Hain ton edges Bears nearer to 2026 title

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Edgbaston (day two)

Leicestershire 125 & 55-3: Budinger 43*; Bamber 2-27

Warwickshire 372: Hain 142, Barnard 88; A Patel 3-78

Leicestershire (3 pts) trail Warwickshire (6 pts) by 192 runs

Match scorecard

Sam Hain hit a splendid day two century against relegation-threatened Leicestershire at Edgbaston to keep Warwickshire on course to win a ninth County Championship title.

In seamer-friendly conditions, Hain compiled a highly-skilled 142 from 301 balls - his 21st century in first-class cricket - as the Bears reached 372 to take a substantial first-innings lead of 247.

Hain, who reached his 1,000 first-class runs for the season, for only the second time, was well supported by Ed Barnard who made 88 in a partnership of 165 in 50 overs.

Leicestershire, rolled for 125 first time round, then closed on 55-3 after Bears paceman Ethan Bamber took two more wickets to take his season's tally to 66.

A draw would now be enough to secure the title but the home supporters, who have turned out in force on the first two days, will arrive for the third expecting a fourth to be unnecessary.

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