Cricket: Ambrose has ton enough; CRICKET: Bears wicket-keeper cements England spot with classy 156.

Byline: By Brian Halford

WARWICKSHIRE'S Tim Ambrose cemented his grip on an England place with a century of high quality against Leicestershire.

Nailing down the wicketkeeping spot in the national team is a mission which has defeated a string of candidates in recent years.

But Ambrose is the current occupant following his succesful entry into Test cricket in New Zealand. And his batting in this rain-affected championship match against the Foxes only underlined his determination to stay in there.

The 25-year-old struck an unbeaten 156, his sixth first-class century, yesterday, to lift the Bears to 433 for eight. Having reached the crease with the Bears wobbling at 104 for four, it was a fine effort.

Ambrose first steered his side out of trouble and then into a position of strength by building partnerships of 152 with Jonathan Trott (82, 179 balls, seven fours) and 157 with Neil Carter (85, 92 balls, seven fours, four sixes).

He faced 231 balls (22 fours) and gave no chance until he was on 112.

Leicestershire began today's final day on 125 for one, trailing by 308, and progressed, largely untroubled, through to 198 for two at lunch.

Captains Darren Maddy and Paul Nixon did not agree a deal so whereas last week's game at Nothampton served the spectators a thriller, this one was set to fizzle out.

Hylton Ackerman showed his quality this morning to reach 104 (133 balls, eight fours) before being bowled by Ian Salsibury's 12th delivery. And Matthew Boyce compiled a compact half-century but, for the contest, there was only stalemate.

Any putative victory charge by the Bears was scuppered by missed chances, allied to further rain.

Ambrose and Carter had given them a glimmer of hope by adding 157, an eighth-wicket record for the Bears against Leicestershire (beating the 148 by Billy Quaife and Bert Whittle at Edgbaston in 1902).

When Leicestershire replied, Tom New lifted Monde Zondeki's seventh ball to point but then came the squandered chances.

Boyce, on eight, was dropped by Salisbury in the slips off Zondeki.

Hylton Ackerman, on 13, edged Carter at catchable height between Darren Maddy and Trott in the cordon, then, on 48, was reprieved by Salisbury off Anyon.

CAPTION(S):

PULLING IT ROUND... Tim Ambrose smashes a four.