Sam Hain scored a century on day two of the Rothesay County Championship, Division One match between Warwickshire and Leicestershire at Edgbaston, helping his team maintain their position to win a ninth County Championship title. Hain scored 142 runs from 301 balls, marking his 21st century in first-class cricket, as Warwickshire reached 372 runs, giving them a first-innings lead of 247. Hain, who reached his 1,000 first-class runs for the season for the second time, was well supported by Ed Barnard, who made 88 runs in a partnership of 165 runs in 50 overs. Leicestershire, who were all out for 125 in their first innings, then closed on 55-3 after Warwickshire’s paceman Ethan Bamber took two more wickets, taking 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 day to be unnecessary. Resuming on 130-4, already five runs in front, Hain and Barnard added 51 runs without losing a wicket in a morning session that was cut short by bad light. Hain and Barnard did exactly what their team required, advancing steadily to lay the platform for a big lead and potential innings victory. Warwickshire’s fifth-wicket pair continued to concentrate hard after lunch until, with the lead already 126, Barnard departed after edging a big drive at a wide ball from Ben Green—just 12 runs short of a century. Chris Woakes chipped his second ball to mid-on, but Kai Smith and Manny Suthar enjoyed useful cameos before also falling to the persevering Green. They had accompanied the excellent Hain towards his century, which was greeted by a standing ovation from the big audience. Bamber then added further useful runs before being bowled by a beauty from Patel. Even then, Leicestershire’s frustration continued as the last pair, Hain and Olly Hannon-Dalby, added 35 runs. Leicestershire opener Sol Budinger then came out firing, hitting 43 not out off 36 balls, but Bamber struck twice in three balls, trapping Sheridon Gumbs and then flattening Rishi Patel’s off-stump two balls late. After a bad-light interruption, Woakes then pinned Steve Eskinazi lbw in the gloom, leaving Warwickshire maybe only one strong session away from securing the title. The match has become a crucial test for both teams, with the outcome likely to be decided in the coming days.