LONDON, CMC – West Indies speedster Shannon Gabriel warmed up for the tour of Sri Lanka next month with a splendid five-wicket haul for Worcestershire while discarded fast bowler Fidel Edwards produced a season-best six-wicket performance for Hampshire, in the English County Championship on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Gabriel, playing in the final game of a two-match contract, finished with five for 35 as the home side, opting to bowl first, routed Middlesex for a paltry 98 on the opening day at New Road.
At the close, Worcestershire were in strong reply at 79 for one.
Right-armer Gabriel, a member of the 15-man squad which will play two Tests in Sri Lanka next month, bowled with pace and hostility on a helpful surface to unsettle the visitors.
He took just one of the first five wickets to fall as Middlesex slumped to 51 but snared four of the last five to blow away the vistors’ lower order.
The effort was Gabriel’s third five-wicket haul in first class cricket.
At Trent Bridge, Edwards also bowled superbly to take six for 88 as Nottinghamshire were bowled out late on the opening day for 340.
The 33-year-old, in the twilight of his international career, always threatened and removed the first three Notts batsmen with just 39 runs on the board inside the first nine overs of the day.
Riki Wessels then hit 104 and Steven Mullaney, 58, in a 115-run, fourth wicket stand to pull the innings around.
However, Edwards returned to ensure a swift end to the Notts innings, claiming the scalps of for former England wicketkeeper/batsman Chris Read (9) and England Test all-rounder Stuart Broad (37) among his last three wickets.
Edwards has been a success with Hampshire this season, taking 41 wickets at an average of 21.53 apiece.
The Barbadian has not played for West Indies in three years.