County Championship: Bears fight back after Finn's early burst

Steven Finn has now taken 24 first-class wickets for Middlesex so far this summer

Jonathan Trott aided Warwickshire's fightback after his former England team-mate Steven Finn took three early wickets at rain-hit Lord's.

The Middlesex fast bowler produced a fiery new-ball spell of 3-31 to reward Middlesex for their decision to ask Warwickshire to bat first following a delayed, weather-affected start.

But, after looking in trouble at 56-3, Trott put on 92 with Laurie Evans.

Trott (44 no) and Evans (41 no) stayed together as the Bears closed on 148-3.

Varun Chopra, Jonathon Webb, on his Championship debut, and Ateeq Javid were Finn's victims as Warwickshire reached 66 for 3 by tea on a rain-shortened opening day.

Finn rested with figures of 10-4-31-3, and they could have been even better but for a spill from Eoin Morgan.

Playing his first Championship match of the season following his return from Indian Premier League duty, England's one-day captain put down a relatively simple chance at leg slip when Evans fended off another spiteful delivery from the tall paceman.

Middlesex and England fast bowler Steven Finn:

"My opening spell was the best I've bowled all summer.

"People have been talking about my pace being down, but I'm still getting it through and I've tried to let my bowling do the talking.

"I've felt good all season with my bowling, although I've been a little bit unlucky at times in terms of picking up wickets."

Warwickshire captain Varun Chopra:

"There was a little bit in the pitch for Finny early on and he bowled some very good deliveries in that spell.

"But we were able to ride it out and I thought our guys stuck at it well out there.

"Losing only three wickets makes it a decent start for us."