LONDON, CMC – West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite appeared in a half-century stand as Gloucestershire completed a simple run to beat Somerset by eight wickets on the final day of their County Championship competition yesterday.
Resuming 28 for one at Taunton’s County Ground in pursuit of 153, the visitors revamped their target just before lunch, with wicket keeper James Bracey hitting 83 unbeaten polished.
Brathwaite, at eight at the start, went on to make 36 in a 79 run second wicket stand with Bracey which put Gloucestershire in the look of victory.
The right-handed Brathwaite hit four fours off 62 balls in 1-¾ hour while Bracey, resuming at ten, counted 13 four off 122 deliveries in just under 2-¾ hours.
When Brathwaite dragged on a drive at Marchant de Lange, Gloucestershire needed only 64 more runs, and Bracey put on 67 for the third wicket with Tom Lace (20 not out) to settle the matter.
At Derby’s County Ground, Alzarri Joseph made four as part of Worcestershire’s tail as the visitors forced a draw with Derbyshire on the final day.
Setting an unlikely 398 overs after Derbyshire declared at 312 for five after rebounding at 268 for five, Worcestershire recovered from 83 for six to end 193 for eight.
At the Oval, opener Hassan Azad struck an unbeaten 144 to challenge West Indies sailor Kemar Roach and the Surrey attack, and win a comfortable match for Leicestershire.
Recapturing 21 without a loss and needing to tackle arrears of another 276 runs to avoid a loss in innkeepers, Leicestershire marched to 295 for three, with Roach ending a wicket of 16 overs which cost 59 run.
At St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, West Indies regulator Miguel Cummins tasted as Kent lost 200 runs to Yorkshire.
Starting the final day at 33 for two facing a mammoth target of 445 runs, Kent fell for 244 with Cummins scoring 12.