Date-stamped : 25 Jun97 - 06:18 Moles digs in to keep Warwicks on course By Mike Beddow at Edgbaston Warwickshire (207) bt Norfolk (127) by 80 runs ON THE Richter Scale, this was a shudder which became a rip- ple. Warwickshire somehow climbed out a chasm at 25 for six and dodged a place on the roll of NatWest Trophy dishonour. Ashley Giles became the common denominator in both innings, following one personal best performance in the competition with another; 69 in a stand of 137 with Andy Moles then five for 21 including four wickets in 12 balls. The man of the match choice could not have been easier for Godfrey Evans, though with three for one in 11 deliveries, Nor- folk`s captain, Paul Newman, would have been a worthy alterna- tive. Newman has sampled the romance and the remorse of England`s first knock-out tournament. With Derbyshire, he won a final at Lord`s but suffered defeat by Durham before their entry into the champi- onship. The latter result stands among only eight instances of a first-class side losing to a Minor County in 35 seasons. Norfolk were so close to becoming the ninth; probably only one wicket short in a dra- matic morning. The scenario was akin to that of Australia`s demise here on the first day of the Ashes series. A damp, greenish pitch and cloud cov- er: perfect conditions for a swing and seam tradesman. Newman is all of that. His pace may have declined, but control is permanent, and Warwickshire`s batsmen provided chances eagerly accepted in the slips by Carl Amos and Carl Rogers. In addi- tion Trevor Penney was run out by Tim Boon. At six for four, the 1995 winners might have hoped to exploit the less experienced member of the attack, but Paul Bradshaw, 19, bowled equally well. The match was barely an hour old but already at its decisive point. If Norfolk could have shifted either Moles or Giles, they might have won. Instead they were rebuffed and, even worse, seamer Steve Gold- smith limped off after six overs. Lesser resources perished to Moles` obduracy - luckily for War- wickshire he was selected after an injury to Dominic Ostler - and Giles gradually became imposing with eight boundaries. The final phase brought two wickets in successive balls for David Thomas and some rumbustious hitting by Gladstone Small. Nor- folk reached 46 for one, but Giles killed the dream and Al- lan Don- ald imposed a sense of reality with three wickets. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)