Warwickshire trail West Indies A by 220 runs with all first-innings wickets in hand.
If the secret of success is seizing opportunities then Adam Shantry could yet have a bright future in the game.
The 23-year-old left-arm swing bowler, who is out of contract in a few weeks, made an excellent impression on his Warwickshire first-class debut. Finding just enough swing to trouble all of the West Indies A batsmen, he not only bowled his side into a strong position but also made a compelling case for a contract extension by taking five for 49 off 14 overs, six of which were maidens.
Bristol-born Shantry was not the only bowler to impress. Their forgotten man, Naqaash Tahir, performed almost as well, finding bounce and movement, while Chris Woakes showed that he is one to keep an eye on.
There were a few factors in their favour. By winning the toss, Warwickshire's bowlers had first use of a green pitch that provided both swing and uneven bounce, while the visitors did bat unusually poorly.
Yet this was still a highly impressive performance against a side containing seven players of international experience and suggested that Warwickshire's future fast bowling resources are not as limited as they have some-times appeared. The future of West Indies cricket looks less certain.
Shantry must have a liking for these tourist matches. In 2004 he recorded his best List A figures (five for 37) for Northamptonshire in a oneday match against the New Zealanders and this performance has come at the perfect time to remind Warwickshire's cricket committee of his ability before firm contract decisions are made.
Events have not gone entirely as Shantry would have like since his move from Northamptonshire before the 2005 season. Despite a string of decent performances for the second XI, he has played only one List A match for Warwickshire in each of the last two seasons. Yet he remains optimistic and credits the former Gloucestershire bowler Mike Smith, a superb exponent of the art of left-arm swing, for much of his recent development.
"Things didn't really work out for me in 2005," Shantry says. "I was injured in pre-season and then I tried too hard to make an impression. I was trying to bowl too fast and lost my swing.
"I'm never going to be the fastest bowler in the world and I'm never going to beat people for pace. But there are plenty of people bowling at 85mph without success.
"This year has been much better. All the coaches have shown faith in me. There are lots of talented young bowlers at Edgbaston but I've been given a fair chance and I really want to thank the club for that.
"I travelled down to Bristol several times in the winter. I'd meet Mike Smith at 7am and we would work together for a few hours. He was brilliant and wouldn't even accept any money for his help.
"He drummed it in to me that I'm a rhythmical bowler, not a muscular bowler, and there aren't many people around who can swing the ball. That's my aim and in 24 out of 25 games this season I have made the ball swing."
A mixture of swing and loose batting accounted for most of the West Indies wickets. Both openers departed before a run was scored, the left-handed Sewnarine Chat-tergoon edging a fine delivery that left him and Lendl Simmons pushing hard at one on off stump and deflecting to first slip.
Although Runako Morton -whose penchant for the flamboyant befits his colourful past - added 72 with Sylvester Joseph, neither hinted at permanence. Naqqash found the edge of their bats as the tour-ists lacked the application required to build large innings in such testing conditions. That fact that 160 of their runs came in boundaries says more about the batting than the bowling.
Woakes, aged only 17 and with another year at sixth-form college ahead of him, showed not only some talent but a sound temperament. Although Morton drilled his first ball in professional cricket over cover for a boundary, it took only 29 balls to register a maiden scalp. Woakes beat Joseph, attempting a fierce straight drive, with a straight one and later induced an edge from Jason Mohammed.
Morton, with 15 fours in his 76, unleashed several thunderous drives but finally edged a beauty that bounced and left him, before Patrick Browne was beaten by one that nipped back and Darren Sammy edged one that was angled across him. Richard Kelly missed an attempted slog while Tino Best misjudged a slower ball and spooned a catch to square leg. A merry last-wicket stand of 39 in six overs added some gloss to the tourists' total but they must curb their attack-ing instincts if they are to prosper in English conditions.
Bad light cut short Warwickshire reply but Ian West-wood unleashed a couple of pleasing cuts and pulls against an unusually rapid opening attack.
