LONDON, CMC – Alzarri Joseph continued to test his weight in gold with the bat, narrowly missing out on a first-half fifth half as he made Worcestershire’s tail wag on the penultimate day of their County Championship clash with Derbyshire.
Resuming at 10 with the visitors on 243 for seven in response to 390, the 24-year-old Joseph stroked 46 to help lift his side to 301 all out on Derby’s County Ground yesterday.
Joseph, who has two Test halves, tasted eight fours and sixes in an entertaining 55-ball stay, extending his eighth wicket stand with Ed Barnard (23) to 51 before he was out last, bowled by a 24-year-old age. leg spinner Matt Critchley (5-67).
Chasing 85 runs on the first inning, Worcestershire watched as Critchley followed up his first with 84 and Wayne Madsen struck 66, helping Derbyshire to 268 for five in the end.
Fast bowler Joseph claimed the first wicket of the fly half when Luis Reece was caught in the wicket for 17, the left wing posting 58 for the first wicket with Leus du Plooy (23) after retired opener Billy Godleman hurting five with an injury grip.
Critchley and Madsen then grounded the pubs with a wicket stand, run by 129, which helped the hosts push their overall lead to 353 runs.
In Taunton, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite was unbeaten on eight as Gloucestershire, which set 153 for victory, came at the end at 28 for one.
Earlier, the visitors were dismissed for 308 in their first innings after resuming at 301 for eight, to a run of just three runs, then bundling Somerset at 149 in their second innings.
James Hildreth scored best with 64 but new ball controller Ryan Higgins grabbed the fly half with four for 29.
At the Oval, Kemar Roach had little to do as his Surrey piled up a mammoth 672 for eight declared against Leicestershire, behind magnificent 245 football Ollie Pope 242 off 272 balls with 30 fours, and Jamie Smith, aged 123, 123.
With 297 ahead, Surrey limited Leicestershire to 21 without a loss at the end, with Roach’s five overs costing just nine runs.