MARK Wagh, Warwickshire's young opener, gave an indication of his capabilities when he made Worcestershire pay dearly for some bad fielding lapses.

Wagh, standing in for injured England opener, Nick Knight, was dropped by Elliott Wilson at third slip in the first over of Warwickshire's innings.

It was an expensive let-off and how Wagh made Worcestershire pay.

The former Oxford University opener not only chalked up his first century of the season, he also recorded his best score of the summer. But he added only 12 to his overnight 118 before being trapped lbw by Glenn McGrath.

Along with fellow opener, Michael Powell, Wagh had put on an impressive 166 for the first wicket and at last night's close Warwickshire were 224-1 -- just 39 in arrears of Worcestershire's first innings total.

Powell was also given a life by Steve Rhodes when he had scored 28. Rhodes, standing up to Stuart Lampitt, dropped a difficult catch. But it was yet another indication of the position Worcestershire conspired to put themselves in.

The wicket was easy paced and, despite a few bouncers from McGrath, there was little in the Worcestershire attack to trouble the Warwickshire openers.

It's hardly surprising that Warwickshire have yet to win a County Championship game at Edgbaston. There has only been one win achieved and with rain threatening this game the record is hardly likely to be improved.

McGrath claimed the distinction of grabbing the only wicket to fall. But he had to be wily to make this capture as he induced Powell to play too soon at a slower delivery and give a return catch.

Wagh, meanwhile, exploited the conditions and his century came with a sweet on-drive boundary off Lam-pitt.

But as Warwickshire were about to go into over-drive after tea, bad light and then heavy rain halted the game prematurely and no less than 41 overs were lost during the day.

It is a situation in which Worcestershire will have to consolidate as Warwickshire could go on to build up a massive lead in an attempt to gain revenge for their recent embarrassing nine wickets rout at New Road.