County Championship: Warwickshire make their second-highest first-class score

Alex Davies struck 28 fours and three sixes in his 256

Warwickshire piled up the second-highest total in their history to put Durham under serious pressure in their County Championship Division One game at Edgbaston.

The home side, led by a maiden double-century from new skipper Alex Davies, amassed a mammoth 698-3 declared to leave Durham needing 549 just to avoid the follow on.

The visitors closed the second day on 178-3 with Alex Lees unbeaten on 94, but a huge amount of work still to do to dig his side out of trouble.

Warwickshire captain Davies amassed 256 from 311 balls, one of three Bears centurions along with Rob Yates (191 on the opening day) and Will Rhodes (178 not out).

Debutant Callum Parkinson delivered the most expensive analysis by a Durham bowler in first-class cricket with figures of 2-206.

Having resumed on 490-1 on 226 overnight, former Lancashire opener Davies advanced implacably and it was a surprise when, after 445 minutes at the crease, he was beaten in defence and bowled by Parkinson.

The spinner then made it two wickets in three balls when he produced a beauty to bowl Ed Barnard.

Dan Mousley hoisted his third ball into the crowd at the City End for six to settle in alongside the relentless Rhodes in adding an unbroken 132 in 22 overs before the declaration half an hour after lunch.

Warwickshire's total trails only their 810-4 declared in 1994, also against Durham at Edgbaston. when West Indies legend Brian Lara made his world record 501 not out.

This pitch continued to offer little but, after Durham eased to 42-0, Warwickshire's seamers managed two superb deliveries in nine balls.

Scott Borthwick edged a brute of a lifter from Olly Hannon-Dalby behind, then Colin Ackermann nicked a perfectly-shaped outswinger from Craig Miles.

Lees and David Bedingham knuckled down to add 94 in 25 overs.

But., although off-spinner Yates had Bedingham (49) caught at short mid-wicket, Lees' concentration remained absolute to see out the last 16 overs with Ollie Robinson.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.