County Championship: Duckett double century puts Notts in control

Ben Duckett’s dazzling double century followed by high-class seam bowling put Nottinghamshire in control against Warwickshire on a rain-affected second day of their County Championship match at Edgbaston.

Duckett’s chanceless 218 lifted Nottinghamshire to 400 all out against an attack skilfully led by Olly Hannon-Dalby, who took 5-78.

Among interruptions for rain and bad light, the visiting seamers reduced Warwickshire to 26-3.

Ed Barnard (18*) and Dan Mousley (26*) dug in to take their side to 71-3 before the last session was lost to the weather.

Further rain forecast on Sunday looks set to frustrate Nottinghamshire in their attempts to turn their domination into victory, however.

If Warwickshire can reach 251 and avoid the follow-on, the match appears destined for a draw.

Nottinghamshire resumed on the second morning on 367-8 with Duckett two runs short of the fifth double century of his career.

He soon moved to 199 and then turned down numerous chances to acquire his 200th run as he farmed the strike before eventually reaching the milestone from 240 balls.

The England batter received intelligent support from Dillon Pennington in a ninth-wicket stand of 44.

Their partnership steered the side to 400 before Mousley bowled Duckett through an attempted carve over the off side. Pennington then pulled Hannon-Dalby to long leg in the next over.

Nottinghamshire’s seam attack inflicted heavy early damage on Warwickshire’s reply as Alex Davies, Will Rhodes and Rob Yates managed just 25 runs between them.

Pennington had Davies superbly taken by Will Young at first slip and trapped Rhodes lbw. A perfect off-cutter from Dane Paterson took Yates’ edge through to wicketkeeper Joe Clarke.

That made it 26-3, at which point the follow-on figure was far in the distance, but in batting conditions about as tough as could be, Barnard and Mousley avoided further damage.