LONDON, CMC – Veteram seamer Kemar Roach yesterday snatched two wickets to inch closer to 400 first class wickets as Surrey flourished on the second day of their County Championship match against Leicestershire at the Oval.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach sends down a delivery against Leicestershire.
After going wicket-less on Thursday’s opening day, the 32-year-old Roach picked up two for 100 as the visitors were dismissed for 375 in their first innings yesterday.
At the close, Surrey were 253 for three, trailing by 122 runs heading into today’s penultimate day.
Resuming the morning on 215 for three, Leicestershire prospered as Sam Evans (138) and Lewis Hill (70) extended their fourth wicket stand to 122 before being separated.
Opener Evans, unbeaten on 100 overnight, struck 16 fours off 280 deliveries while Hill, resuming on 20, hit seven fours off 124 deliveries.
Once Evans was bowled by off-spinner Amar Virdi, Leicestershire lost their last seven wickets for 77 wickets, with Roach’s success coming in successive overs when he knocked over wicketkeeper Harry Swindells (20) and Callum Parkinson (2) cheaply.
Roach now has 395 first class wickets from 124 matches.
In their turn at the crease, Surrey slumped to 93 for three before Ollie Pope (92 not out) and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes (68 not out) struck timely half-centuries in a 160-run, fourth wicket stand to rescue the innings.
At Taunton, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite missed out but Gloucestershire rallied to end the day on 301 for eight, in reply to Somerset’s 312.
Resuming on two with Gloucestershire on 13 without loss, Brathwaite perished lbw for 18 to seamer Craig Overton (3-60) at 41 for one.
However, wicketkeeper James Bracey struck 118, Matt Taylor 53 not out and captain Chris Dent, 50, to prop up the innings.
And at Derby, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph (2-108) failed to add to his tally as Derbyshire were dismissed for 390 in their first innings, after resuming from their overnight 360 for eight.
Worcestershire then ended on 243 for seven thanks to half-centuries from Tom Fell (69) and Riki Wessell (60), with Joseph unbeaten on 10 at the close.
