Day three at Edgbaston was a slow-burning affair—tactically intriguing, richly layered, and tinged with suspense. Nottinghamshire’s iron grip on the match remained unshaken as they continued to dictate terms, bolstered by a masterclass from Haseeb Hameed, who carried his bat through an innings for the second time in his first-class career. His composed 138* off 399 deliveries served as the spine of Nottinghamshire’s imposing 367, a score that now looms large over a faltering Warwickshire side.
Yet, with just four wickets standing and 111 runs still needed to avoid an innings defeat, Warwickshire’s only apparent salvation could arrive not in the form of a lower-order resurgence, but from the skies, as Monday’s forecast hints at heavy showers.
Leading from the front!
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) April 20, 2025
A fine hundred from Haseeb Hameed.#WARvNOT | 📺 https://t.co/rIkTeRX8Le pic.twitter.com/0UItlGpESs
Hameed’s Century: A Marathon of Patience and Poise
From the moment Nottinghamshire resumed at 204 for 5, their plan was methodical: grind the opposition, accumulate, and eliminate variables. Hameed and Lyndon James added a measured 51 off 126 balls, suppressing urgency in favor of security. James eventually fell to Ed Barnard for 42, but by then the foundation was solid.
Hameed’s century—his 16th in first-class cricket—was a display in restraint and resilience. He batted nearly seven hours, becoming only the third Nottinghamshire player to carry his bat against Warwickshire, a feat previously achieved by Mick Newell and Alex Hales.
O’Neil Delivers with the Bat After Heroics with the Ball
Fergus O’Neil elevated his stock yet again with a confident 50, adding urgency where his teammates hesitated. His innings, highlighted by crisp strokeplay through the covers, provided a late push before his dismissal—skying a slog the very next delivery after reaching his milestone.
His departure sparked a late-order wobble, but also allowed Michael Booth to notch his maiden five-wicket haul, a spell capped by successive wickets and tight lines that disrupted Nottinghamshire’s tail.
Booth’s Breakthrough: Five-For Marks a Career Milestone
Michael Booth’s 5 for 90 wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was the turning point that prevented Nottinghamshire’s innings from spiraling out of control. Displaying sharp movement and intelligent variations, Booth picked up crucial scalps, including a back-to-back strike to dismiss Hutton and Tongue, before wrapping up the innings with Farhan Ahmed’s edge to the keeper.
Warwickshire Falter Under Pressure
Warwickshire’s second innings began on shaky ground. Alex Davies edged to slip within the first five overs, setting an ominous tone. Rob Yates and Hamza Shaikh tried to mount resistance with a 34-run stand, but wickets fell in clusters. Sam Hain’s dismissal post-tea, fencing a delivery outside off stump, exposed Warwickshire’s vulnerability against seam on a pitch that showed signs of flattening.
Shaikh’s dogged 27 off 81 balls and Dan Mousley’s gritty 32 offered momentary stability, yet neither could sustain the pressure. Farhan Ahmed, with his leg-spin, broke through Mousley’s defense to claim the first spin-induced dismissal of the match.
With nine deliveries remaining in the day, Kai Smith was undone by a delivery of genuine class from O’Neil—angled in, seamed away, clipped the top of off. A symbolic end to a day that Nottinghamshire dominated with patience, precision, and purpose.
Final Day Forecast: Rain or Resolve?
Heading into Day Four, all eyes turn to the weather. Nottinghamshire stands just four wickets away from a resounding win, but time—and perhaps the elements—may prove their greatest obstacle. Warwickshire, trailing by 111 with only their lower order intact, face an uphill task: bat through the day or pray for persistent rain.
As the County Championship drama crescendos, Edgbaston braces for either an emphatic Nottinghamshire finish or a weather-induced stalemate.
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Building a platform for a six-wicket burst.
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) April 20, 2025
Centurion Haseeb Hameed on #WARvNOT day three 💯
Watch in full 👉 https://t.co/K06m4M2KRF pic.twitter.com/J0kZ6bmeY3
Conclusion
A comprehensive win is in sight for Nottinghamshire, yet its realization rests on the final day’s unpredictability. Rain clouds threaten, but if the weather clears, the visiting bowlers are poised to finish what Hameed and Booth so thoroughly set up. Warwickshire, meanwhile, must summon every ounce of defiance—or depend on divine intervention from above.
