VARUN Chopra fell seven runs short of a well-deserved century as Warwickshire reached 138-4 at lunch on the second day of their rain-affected championship match at the County Ground.

Chopra looked a class above his team-mates before being caught by Craig Kieswetter off the bowling of Alfonso Thomas for 93.

He had already struck 13 runs off the over before being snaffled off the final ball.

Ten balls later Thomas and Kieswetter combined again to dismiss Darren Maddy for a duck and leave Thomas with figures of 3-28 in eight.

The match began yesterday when only ten overs play was possible because of persistent rain.