Northants v Warwickshire: Jim Troughton in runs on Bears return

Warwickshire skipper Jim Troughton and teenager Sam Hain hit half-centuries to help the Bears edge towards a first-innings lead against Northants.

Chris Woakes and Chris Wright took less than half an hour to polish off the Northants tail as the hosts, 297-8 overnight, were bowled out for 312.

Varun Chopra (47) and Will Porterfield (32) put on 81 for the first wicket.

But a 138-run fourth-wicket stand from Troughton (69) and Hain's career-best 87 not out, helped the Bears to 274-4.

Troughton's three-hour stay at the crease came on his return from a back injury almost a year after his last Championship appearance.

But it could yet be overshadowed by 18-year-old Hain, who is due to return to the middle on Tuesday morning just 13 runs short of a maiden first-class century.

Earlier, England all-rounder Woakes took his haul of Championship wickets for the season to 20 after finishing with 4-87, while Wright's 3-63 leaves him on 24 victims.

BBC WM 95.6's Rob Gurney:

"The brilliant fourth-wicket stand between Jim Troughton and Sam Hain has given Warwickshire the platform to build a big first-innings lead.

"Troughton's innings was almost chanceless, perfectly picking the bad balls to score off.

"But Hain remains unbeaten overnight and no-one would begrudge him his maiden century."