Hick and Solanki punish Warwickshire's bowlers

Graeme Hick's fifth CricInfo Championship century of the season and the 116th of his first-class career derailed promotion hopefuls Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The Worcestershire captain amassed an undefeated 196 and put on 217 with Vikram Solanki on a bad day for the home side's hopes of closing the gap on the top three counties in the Second Division.

A wayward bowling performance, especially in an afternoon session of 156 runs, allowed their local rivals to post a score of 435 for 5 on the first day. Hick closed with 21 fours and three sixes from 294 deliveries.

It was also Warwickshire's misfortune to run into two batsmen who launched a lavish counter-attack after Neil Carter had removed openers Anurag Singh and Philip Weston at a personal cost of 17 runs in 6.4 overs.

Their hundreds arrived almost in tandem - Solanki the first there in 143 balls, followed by Hick in 147 - and a double-century stand arrived at exactly five-runs-an-over.

The carnage ended when occasional off-spinner Mark Wagh had Solanki stumped for 112, including 15 fours and three sixes, and there was further respite for Warwickshire with Nick Boulton's edge to second slip off Alan Richardson.

But Hick made it clear he was in the mood to bat to the close. A straight six was a rare interruption in an effective containing spell by Wagh and the former England batsman took 102 balls to reach a relatively cautious third 50.

Yet he still monopolised a stand of 82 with David Leatherdale until his partner became Keith Piper's fourth victim of the day. The two century-makers had been so dominant that Andy Bichel became the next highest scorer with a late dash to 39 not out.