Without the rested Chris Woakes, both Bears opening bowlers struck early.

Olly Hannon-Dalby forced Haseeb Hameed to edge to second slip where Rob Yates held on, and Freddie McCann emulated his captain’s 10-ball duck when Bamber hit his off stump.

At 17-2, Martindale, deputising for the injured Ben Slater and playing only his second first-class match, needed to stay strong – and he did.

Bolstered by three fours in a Bamber over, he put on 88 in 23 overs with Clarke before falling in the last over before lunch.

Dan Mousley called upon to supply the obligatory over of pre-interval spin, flighted a ball onto the 23-year-old’s toe to win an lbw decision.

Jack Haynes soon edged Bamber to offer Yates his 26th catch of the season and Kyle Verreynne was unlucky to be adjudged lbw to an Ed Barnard delivery which looked leg-side.

That left the reigning champions on an uneasy 148-5 but James settled in alongside Clarke, whose 89th ball took the 30-year-old former Shropshire and Worcestershire player to 1,000 runs for the season – for only the third time.

The sixth-wicket partnership added 72 from 23 overs, mostly in moderate light, before James feathered a pull at Michael Booth to wicketkeeper Alex Davies before a lively unbroken late stand of 43 with debutant New Zealand fast bowler Fraser Sheat (27 not out).

Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.