Brathwaite squanders starts, Joseph among wickets for Worcestershire

Alzarri Joseph

LONDON, CMC – Kraigg Brathwaite twice got starts but failed to carry on while West Indies Test colleague Alzarri Joseph played a small role in Worcestershire’s victory push, on the penultimate day of matches in the County Champion-ship here yesterday.

Playing at Bristol, the right-handed Brathwaite made 38 after resuming from his overnight 27 as Gloucestershire were bundled out for 158 in their first innings against Surrey.

Forced to follow on by 315 runs, Gloucestershire slumped to 124 for five in their second innings at the close, with Brathwaite getting 28.

Featuring in his last game for the south-west England outfit before heading back to the Caribbean for the two-Test series against South Africa starting June 10, Brathwaite failed to get the runs he would have wanted under his belt.

On 45 for one at the start, Gloucestershire flourished initially as Brathwaite extended his second wicket stand with Miles Hammond to 45, before the pair were separated.

Kraigg Brathwaite … got starts in both innings but failed to go on and post a big score.

Test captain Brathwaite had faced 108 deliveries in 2-¼ hours and counted three fours, when he missed a defensive prod at a straight one from off-spinner Amar Virdi (3-46) and was adjudged lbw at 84 for two.

Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty then dismantled the remainder of the innings with a spell of six for 60 as the hosts lost their last nine wickets for just 74 runs.

Hammond hit nine fours in a top score of 77 off 188 deliveries in just under four hours before he was last out.

In their second turn at the crease, Gloucs were handed another decent start by Brathwaite and captain Chris Dent (14) who posted 38 for the first wicket.

Brathwaite played positively, hitting three fours in a breezy 37-ball knock before becoming the first casualty of the innings, clipping an innocuous delivery back to fast bowler Jamie Overton.

Hammond was left to once again prop up the innings with an unbeaten 38, so far posting 40 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand with Jonathan Tattersall (15 not out).

At New Road, Joseph, who will also return to the Caribbean after the contest for the South Africa series, grabbed a brace of wickets to end with two for 78 as Derbyshire, resuming on 91 for three, were dismissed for 270 in their first innings.

Number six Matt Critchley struck an unbeaten 81 while Wayne Madsen made 51 after resuming on his overnight 31.

Following on by 151 runs, Derbyshire were struggling on 112 for six at the close, with Madsen among the runs on 43 not out and Joseph picking up one for 24 from six overs.