Date-stamped : 22 Sep97 - 06:21 Swann the one on song By Peter Roebuck at Edgbaston First day of four: Northants 215-4 v Warwicks A DOGGED day`s play was brought to a premature conclusion as murky clouds shed their tears; honours were even as stumps were drawn with over an hour left. Forsaking the "damn-and-blast-it" approach of their elders, Northamptonshire`s younger batsmen had collected tenaciously on a shaven pitch against persistent bowling. Warwickshire, though, did not wilt and found encouragement in squandered wickets. Alec Swann led the way for the visitors after Alan Fordham had marked his own swansong with a crisp innings which ended with a shot reminiscent of John Daly on the tee of a longish par five (though he wasn`t quite so restrained). Alas, the ball was spooned in the air. Fordham now joins the tie and collar brigade at Lord`s, whose ranks are so rapidly swelling. Hereafter, Swann and Richard Montgomerie fought for their runs. Swann is a lean, neat, unobtrusive player who scores mostly with de- flections and occasional booming off-drives. Although uncertain against spin early in his innings, Swann, whose younger brother plays for England under-19s, did not look much like getting out. Montgomerie plays mostly off the back foot, especially against spin, soon introduced with fieldsmen placed nearby. Nor was ei- ther batsman perturbed as Alan Jones, the umpire, took excep- tion at two slip fieldsmen moving surreptitiously closer as Michael Bell ran into bowl his slower ball. Warwickshire said the tactic had been used all season without remark. My sym- pathies lay with Jones because the ma- noeuvre seems dubious. A ruling is needed. Seeing the batsmen resolute against spin, Warwickshire re- called their pace men, whereupon Montgomerie hooked to square leg. Next ball, Kevin Curran swatted indiscreetly at another bumper and skied a catch. Dougie Brown took both wickets, reward for his resourceful- ness. Having subsided to 133 for one, Northamptonshire might have collapsed. Instead, they held firm. David Sales gave robust and capable support until suddenly cutting to slip and departing with misgivings about the catch. Tim Walton hung on until he was lost amidst a confusion of calls. Swann was unmoved on a day ending satisfactorily for Warwick- shire`s immediate ambitions and for the visitors` longer prospects. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Brian Lara is 90 per cent certain to return to Warwickshire as their overseas player next year, according to club captain Tim Munton. The only obstacle appears to be when the West Indian domestic sea- son ends. Warwickshire`s chances of third place were not helped by the fact they took 144 overs to bowl Northants out in their rain- affected match at Edgbaston. Alec Swann, 20, making his fourth championship ap- pearance, batted more than seven hours for a maiden hundred. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) County Round-up: Warwicks lose their way and third place WARWICKSHIRE lost their chance of a -L16,000 pay-out for third place in the championship after failing by 25 runs to reach a target of 271 to beat Northamptonshire at Edgbaston. Robust batting in the last hour by distinguished eight-wicket pair, Dougie Brown and Ashley Giles, allowed Warwickshire to sal- vage three points for a draw. Had Giles been held at silly point as the partnership began a different tale might have been told. Warwickshire had slumped to 125 for seven and thereafter con- centrated upon protecting their position. Earlier they had saved the follow-on whereupon some unsavoury cricket was played: after securing a money-spinning batting point, they helped Northants to score 150 in 13 overs. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)