Three half-centuries propped up Warwickshire's batting as the hosts finished the day one of their four-day tie against India 'A' on 302 for four at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Put into to bat, the home side piled on their runs with the help of half-centuries from Michael Powell (68), Ian Trott (78) and Ian Bell (71 not out) as the India 'A' bowlers struggled to maintain a good line and length.

At stumps, Tony Frost was giving company to Bell on 30.

For the visitors, Laxmipathy Balaji was the most successful bowler with two wickets for 45 runs while Amit Bhandari and Amit Mishra claimed one wicket each.

Skipper Powell, who opened the innings with debutant Ian Westwood, added 54 runs for the first wicket before the latter was castled by Bhandari for 19.

But the tourists' joy was shortlived as Powell partnering Trott frustrated them putting on 83 runs for the second wicket.

The Warwickshire opener, who faced 123 balls and hit 12 boundaries during his more than two hours stay at the crease, departed when he was trapped LBW by leggie Mishra.

Though next man D P Ostler, who was snapped by captain Shiv Sunder Das off Balaji (10), did not last long, Warwickshire consolidated their position with an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 89 runs between Frost and Bell.

In between Trott was caught behind by Parthiv Patel off the bowling of Balaji after making 78 with the help of 14 boundaries.

Scoreboard

Warwickshire (1st innings):
M Powell lbw b Mishra                68
I Westwood b Bhandari               19
I Trott c Patel b Balaji                78
I Bell batting                               71
D Ostler c Das b Balaji              10
T Frost batting                            30

Extras: (lb-6, w-15, nb-5)            26

Total: (for 4 wickets, 90 overs)     302

Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-137, 3-180, 4-213.

Bowling: Salvi 13-2-56-0, Pathan 16-3-40-0, Bhandari 16-3-55-1, Balaji 20-10-45-2, Mishra 17-2-71-1, Sriram 8-2-29-0.

The India 'A' tour of England - Complete coverage