LONDON, CMC – Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite got a start but failed to carry on but Gloucestershire still did enough to take control of their County Championship clash with Middlesex.
Replying to Middlesex’s first innings of 210, the visitors were dismissed for 273 on Friday’s day two, to take a 63-run lead at Lord’s.
The right-handed Brathwaite made 33 but it was wicketkeeper James Bracey who carried the fight for Gloucestershire with a top score of 75 while Ian Cockbain struck 51 and Ryan Higgins, 49.
Middlesex were struggling at the close on 26 for three in their second innings, 37 runs behind heading into Saturday’s penultimate day.
Resuming from their overnight 19 for one, Gloucestershire flourished thanks to Brathwaite’s enterprise, the Barbadian featuring in a 30-run, second wicket stand with Matt Taylor (13) and then in a 46-run third wicket with Bracey.
Brathwaite, on five at the start, struck four boundaries off 121 deliveries in a shade under 2-¾ hours before he was third out with the score on 89.
Thereafter, Bracey took responsibility for the innings, adding 91 for the fifth wicket with Cockbain, hitting nine fours and a six in a 143-ball knock that consumed a little under 2-½ hours.
When Bracey was sixth out at 205, Higgins provided a late flourish in a 43-ball knock that included half-dozen fours and a six.
At Leeds, West Indies fast bowler Miguel Cummins brandished his bat in a breezy unbeaten 28 of 45 balls, with two fours and two sixes, as he put on a critical 60-run, ninth wicket stand with Marcus O’Riordan (40) to lift Kent to 305 all out in their first innings after the visitors resumed on 224 for seven.
In reply, Gary Ballance hit an unbeaten 91 and Harry Brook, 51, as Yorkshire finished the day on 240 for five, with Cummins going wicketless from 12 overs.
At Edgbaston, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph finished with a single wicket as Warwickshire converted their overnight 271 for seven into 343.
Worcestershire in reply reached 184 for four at the close with opener Jake Libby (74) and Jack Haynes (52) hitting half-centuries.