Oliver Hannon-Dalby's six wickets lead Warwickshire to first victory

Warwickshire dominated the match against Kent, with a strong performance from their batsmen and bowlers. In the first innings, Warwickshire scored an impressive 420 runs, with Alex Rhodes leading the way with a fantastic knock of 201, supported by a valuable contribution of 65 from Ed Barnard. In response, Kent managed to score only 156 runs, with Nick Compton top-scoring with 70. In the second innings, Kent put up a better fight, scoring 243 runs with Daniel Bell-Drummond scoring 78 and Joey Evison contributing 65 runs. However, Warwickshire's bowling attack, led by Oliver Hannon-Dalby who took 6 wickets for 43 runs, proved too strong for Kent to handle. Ultimately, Warwickshire won the match by an innings and 21 runs, showcasing their dominance over Kent in all departments of the game.

Warwickshire banked their first Vitality County Championship victory of the season in the most emphatic fashion, by an innings and 21 runs over struggling Kent, before lunch on the third day at Edgbaston.

Kent were bowled out in their second innings for 243 on the third morning as Warwickshire's seamers completed the demolition job they start on their opponents on the first day.

Bowled out for 156 first time round, Kent mustered little more at their second attempt even against the Kookaburra ball on an easing pitch as Oliver Hannon-Dalby took 6 for 43 (9 for 74 in the match).

Only Joey Evison (65) offered prolonged resistance as the visitors' dismal season delivered a sixth successive Championship defeat and another shunt towards relegation. Injuries to key pair Tawanda Muyeye and Grant Stewart only added to a grim three days in the West Midlands for Matt Walker's side.

After Kent resumed on the third morning on 157 for 3, they advanced comfortably enough to 171 before Hannon-Dalby hit them with a burst of 3 for 6 in 14 balls. Sharp in-duckers trapped Jack Leaning and Muyeye lbw and Charlie Stobo sent his first ball to Rob Yates at second slip.

Hannon-Dalby was 60 percent of the way to taking all 10, but that pathway was ended by Ed Barnard who trapped Stewart lbw and followed up with the wicket of Matt Parkinson, who edged to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess.

Alfie Ogborne edged Michael Rae to slip before Evison, running out of partners, lifted Barnard for six to reach a 93-ball half-century. Evison batted impressively in both innings but when another attempt to clear the ropes, off Michael Booth, found only Alex Davies at long-on, another Championship ordeal for Kent was complete.

Their Division One status will expire shortly but Warwickshire's appears safe for another year after this victory as other teams in the bottom half of the table struggle in their games around the country.