Sam Hain's 88 anchored Warwickshire's 190 all out as they weathered rain delays to take the upper hand in their County Championship match against Essex. The visitors closed day two at 110-3, with 81 overs lost to rain, setting the stage for a tense contest. Jamie Porter's 4-59 spearheaded the home attack, while Sam Cook, Shane Snater, and Zaman Akhter chipped in with two wickets each.

Essex's Paul Walter (46) and Charlie Allison (40 not out) steadied the ship with a crucial 84-run stand, but late-order collapses hinted at vulnerability. Hain's 12 short of a century and Keith Barker's 31-run partnership with him kept Warwickshire in control despite Ethan Bamber's dropped catch. Essex's Dean Elgar and Luc Benkenstein fell to key wickets, with Barker claiming his 360th first-class scalp.

The match remains poised for a decisive finish if conditions improve.