Warwickshire frustrated by rain against Notts

After a full morning session, only 6.3 overs were possible after lunch before heavy rain arrived with Nottinghamshire, trailing by 159 on first innings, on 81 for two.

The visitors’ batting line-up, very fragile in recent weeks, has work still to do to save the game, though is likely to get further help from above with more bad weather forecast for the final day.

In the morning Warwickshire took their first innings from 283 for eight to 311 against an attack deprived of paceman Jake Ball who stayed off the field with a sore elbow. In his absence the home side was taken to a third batting point by Mark Adair who first championship innings at Edgbaston was a valuable 32 (36 balls, three fours and a six).

After Adair lifted Brett Hutton to long-leg and Boyd Rankin bat-padded Dan Christian to short-leg, Nottinghamshire went in again needing to show much greater resolve with the bat than in the first innings.

After the early loss of Jake Libby, who edged Keith Barker to second slip, they did so as Steven Mullaney and Michael Lumb added 67 in 22 overs. The departure of Lumb (32, 67 balls, three fours), lbw pushing forward to Jeetan Patel in the fourth over after lunch, left them in still in deep peril but the prospect of much play on the final day is remote.