LONDON, CMC – Alzarri Joseph continued to prove his weight in gold with the bat, narrowly missing out on a fifth first class half-century as he ensured Worcestershire’s tail wagged on the penultimate day of their County Championship clash with Derbyshire.
Resuming on 10 with the visitors on 243 for seven in reply to 390, the 24-year-old Joseph stroked 46 to help lift his side to 301 all out at Derby’s County Ground yesterday.
Joseph, who has two Test half-centuries, blasted eight fours and a six in an entertaining 55-ball stay, extending his eighth wicket stand with Ed Barnard (23) to 51 before he was last out, bowled by 24-year-old leg-spinner Matt Critchley (5-67).
Trailing by 85 runs on first innings, Worcestershire watched as Critchley followed up his first innings hundred with 84 and Wayne Madsen struck 66, helping Derbyshire to 268 for five at the close.
Fast bowler Joseph claimed the first wicket of the innings when he had Luis Reece caught at the wicket for 17, the left-hander posting 58 for the first wicket with Leus du Plooy (23) after opener Billy Godleman retired hurt on five with a groin injury.
Critchley and Madsen then underpinned the innings with a 129-run, third wicket stand which helped the hosts pushed their overall lead to 353 runs.
At Taunton, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite was unbeaten on eight as Gloucestershire, set 153 for victory, reached the close on 28 for one.
Earlier, the visitors were dismissed for 308 in their first innings after resuming on 301 for eight, to trail by only three runs, and then bundled Somerset out for 149 in their second innings.
James Hildreth top-scored with 64 but new ball pacer Ryan Higgins rattled the innings 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 Ollie Pope’s magnificent 245 off 272 balls with 30 fours, and 20-year-old Jamie Smith’s 123.
Armed with a lead of 297, Surrey limited Leicestershire to 21 without loss at the close, with Roach’s five overs costing only nine runs.
