Warwickshire win 2026 County Championship: Bears beat Leicestershire to seal ninth title

Resuming at 55-3, Leicestershire were dealt a huge early blow when Woakes removed main dangerman Sol Budinger for 47, with only four added to his overnight tally.

Bowling round the wicket, Woakes brought an unplayable delivery back from outside off stump to hit the top of middle.

In his next but one over, Woakes had Jonny Tattersall caught by Rob Yates at second slip.

Then, just three balls later, it was Bamber’s turn as he had Leicestershire’s first-innings top scorer Ben Cox caught by Sam Hain at first slip.

Bamber struck again four overs later when Will Young hung onto an amazing one-hander high to his left at third slip to dismiss Ben Green.

Captain Ian Holland added a further 35 with Scriven before being trapped in front by Bears skipper Ed Barnard, and the ninth-wicket pair added 22 more to delay lunch by half an hour, but India Test spinner Manav Soutar removed Ajaz Patel’s off stump with a vicious turner.

The Foxes battled hard to at least take the game into an eighth session – but, with Scriven cruelly one short of a deserved 50, Bamber quickly wrapped it up by clean bowling him to start another Edgbaston party.

More to follow.