Warwickshire trail Glamorgan (239) by 74 runs with nine first-innings wickets intact
Warwickshire utterly dominated a glorious first day at Colwyn Bay to take a firm grip on their game against Glamorgan.
Assured batting from Ian Westwood and Jonathan Trott rammed home the advantage after Warwickshire's bowlers had made light work of the hosts' batting.
A substantial first-innings lead should be established today and Glamorgan already face the prospect of their fourth innings loss of the campaign.
Neither Trott or Westwood have been in the best of form of late, but neither could hope for a more perfect conditions to recover their form. A fine batting track and a warm sun make bowling here an unforgiving business and the hosts face more toil today.
With that in mind, Warwickshire's bowlers deserve special credit for dismissing Glamorgan within 60 overs.
Despite the visitors losing the toss on a pitch made for batting, they swept through the top order, preying on poor technique and rock-bottom confidence, with a disciplined and skilful display.
There was, as ever, a modicum of help early on. Warwickshire's bowlers utilised it well, delivering a probing line and length and benefiting from some insipid batting.
Dewald Pretorius struck the early blow, Mark Wallace's inside edge striking the pad and carrying to third slip, before Dan Cherry fished outside his off-stump.
David Hemp, a beacon of hope in a grim year for the Welsh, produced some characteristically pleasing strokes but when he played across one which swung away to take his off-stump, it opened the floodgates as Glamorgan lost four wickets for 12 runs.
Dougie Brown cut through the middle order. Bowling offcutters with the wicketkeeper standing up, he produced a spell of three wickets for three runs in 17 balls, accounting for Jonathan Hughes and Michael O'Shea, bowled between bat and pad, before Alex Wharf prodded half-forward to a straight one.
It was a fine display of bowling from a man that has more than compensated for a loss of pace with thought and skill.
From the depths of 117 for seven at lunch, Glamorgan's final total represented a significant fightback. Yet on a pitch where scores of well over 400 have been the norm in past seasons, their total still represented a significant underachievement. Indeed, it was the first time since 2000 that a side has not managed to surpass 400 in a completed first innings on a ground renowned as a batsman's paradise.
Robert Croft (91 deliveries, 11 fours) helped the last three double the score, but their batting only put the efforts of the top order into context. With a lightning-fast outfield and attacking fields, the smallest deflection ran to the boundary and only illustrated what might have been.
By the time Warwickshire batted, the pitch was bone dry and offered nothing for the bowlers. Nick Knight leaned into a couple of pleasing drives, but it was Westwood who caught the eye.
Leaving the ball with impressive restraint, he also displayed a pleasing straight drive, produced some attractive backfoot forces through point and has already recorded his highest Championship score.
Westwood (133 balls, ten fours) has shown previously that he has the temperament to be a fine player, but for the first time he demonstrated that he also possess the strokes to hurt the opposition. In time, he may even develop to fill Knight's shoes.
He survived a couple of nervous moments early on, edging the deserving David Harrison just out of reach on two occasions, but dealt with Croft's spin comfortably and resumes this morning on the brink of establishing himself in the side for the foreseeable future.
Though Knight departed for the close, again bowled off the inside edge as he overbalanced, Trott produced his best innings for some months to consolidate Warwickshire's position.
There have been moments this summer when it has been hard to remember what a fine batsman Trott looked last term.
Apart from a century against Gloucestershire in early June, he has failed to pass 41 in a Championship innings and looked a shadow of the belligerent cricketer of old.
Trott had managed just 36 runs in his previous six firstclass innings, but resumes today near a delightful halfcentury full of crisp drives and authoritative pulls.
Cheered on by a remarkably large contingent of travelling supporters, Warwickshire have put themselves well on course for victory with time to spare.
That could be highly relevant for, with the game against Nottinghamshire due to begin the day after this one ends, both teams face a test of their stamina at Trent Bridge.
