Bears make a solid start.

WARWICKSHIRE started strongly after they were put in by Worcestershire on a cloudy morning at Edgbaston today.

The visitors chose to bowl, aiming to make early inroads into a Bears top order which has faltered of late.

But their hopes of getting at England pair Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott with the new ball were dashed as Ian Westwood and Ant Botha added 50 by the 13th over.

Against ill-directed bowling, the openers posted 62 in a rain-affected morning session to give Warwickshire the solid start they wanted in such a vital game.

Worcestershire, the only team the Bears have beaten in four-day cricket this season, have struggled desperately and are clearly the team that anyone in the relegation equation would want to play next.

Warwickshire are in that position and captain Westwood knows his players must now take advantage.

"We would be lying if we said we haven't talked about the fact that this looks our most winnable game," the captain said. "We need to play well and hopefully beat them. But it will be no walkover.''