Essex enjoyed the better of an inevitable draw against Warwickshire after Graham Napier's blistering 62-ball 74 gave them a batting point. That had looked in doubt when David Masters was eighth out at 158, before support for Napier came first from Danish Kaneria, and then from Mark Pettini, who batted at No11 because of blurred vision caused by an astigmatism. Chris Woakes, whose fine outswing bowling brought him three wickets, had done most to undermine the Essex innings.

If Essex would have liked more of their batsmen to make some runs ahead of today's Friends Provident Trophy final against Kent, at least Napier warmed up for it in typically muscular fashion. With the two captains calling a truce as early as 3.55pm, Essex were at least able to leave Edgbaston in good time and settle into their London hotel before a team meeting and dinner. The match was scheduled to end by 5pm in any case after the start times of each day were brought forward by 15 minutes.

Napier had already crashed Ian Salisbury for two sixes as well as hitting both Boyd Rankin and James Anyon for six when Pettini joined him, with 13 runs needed for the bonus point. The Essex captain was almost timed out, his decision to bat clearly being a last-minute one. Pads and protectors had been put on so hurriedly that they had to be readjusted in the first break between overs after his arrival at the crease. The club are optimistic that he will be fit to lead the side at Lord's, although he did not take the field when Warwickshire batted again.

Woakes caused problems both with his stock ball, the outswinger, and his variation, the inswinger. On this sort of form he should be a natural selection for the ECB Academy intake this winter after impressing consistently throughout this, his first season as a regular first-team bowler. He scarcely bowled a bad ball and might easily have finished with more wickets. It was odd that Rankin, who sent down some ill-directed fair together with a few good balls on this, his debut for the county, should be better rewarded with four victims. He conceded six and a half runs an over from his 12.3 overs.

As many as six Essex batsmen were caught in the slips, including James Foster who, it transpired, had been on a drip on Thursday after feeling unwell. Like Pettini, he is expected to be available for the final.

Warwickshire: First Innings 154 (Danish Kaneria 6 for 48)

Second Innings

I J Westwood c Middlebrook b Napier 6
N S Poonia c Flower b Masters 2
*D L Maddy not out 30
I J L Trott not out 21
Extras (b 8, lb 1) 9

Total (2 wkts dec, 27 overs) 68

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-11.

Bowling: Masters 5-3-7-1; Napier 5-2-11-1; Wright 3-0-14-0; Kaneria 3-0-5-0; Ten Doeschate 4-0-14-0; Middlebrook 5-1-5-0; Flower 2-0-3-0.

Essex: First Innings (overnight 38-2)

G W Flower c and b Woakes 26
J D Middlebrook c Maddy b Rankin 9
J S Foster c Maddy b Woakes 13
R N ten Doeschate c Trott b Anyon 30
G R Napier c and b Rankin 76
C J C Wright c Trott b Salisbury 0
D D Masters c Frost b Rankin 5
Danish Kaneria c Woakes b Anyon 4
*M L Pettini not out 0
Extras (b 3, lb 8, w 5, nb 15) 31

Total (48.3 overs) 216

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-38, 3-54, 4-75, 5-84, 6-138, 7-153, 8-158, 9-187.

Bowling: Anyon 9-2-43-2; Woakes 17-7-28-3; Rankin 12.3-1-80-4; Salisbury 4-1-27-1; Carter 6-1-27-0.

Umpires: M J D Bodenham and J W Holder.