Late wickets help Joseph fuel Worcestershire comeback

(CMC):

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph grabbed a brace of wickets to cap off a Worcestershire fightback on his County Championship debut, on an otherwise quiet day for West Indies players on day one of the second round which bowled off yesterday.

Playing at Derby, hosts Derbyshire piled up 360 for eight after being sent in, with the 24-year-old Joseph claiming both wickets off successive deliveries in the day's penultimate over, to end with two for 86 from 18 overs.

Derbyshire were cruising at one stage on 338 for four but Joseph's late burst ensured the hosts lost four wickets for 17 runs towards the end.

Matt Critchley struck a breezy 109 while South African left-hander Leus du Plooy narrowly missed out on three figures with 98, after adding 137 for the second wicket with opener and captain Billy Godleman (50).

First-class hundred

Wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein was unbeaten at the close on 65, having put on 121 for the fifth wicket with Critchley, whose fourth first-class hundred came off 159 balls in just under 3-3/4 hours and included 11 fours.

At Canterbury, fast bowler Miguel Cummins picked up one for 92 as Yorkshire gathered 358 for eight against Kent, with veteran seamer Darren Stevens picking up three for 52.

Opting to bat first, Yorkshire got a rollicking 97 off 116 balls from opener Adam Lyth who struck 15 fours, while 22-year-old Harry Brook hit 54 off 80 deliveries before falling lbw to Cummins.

At Taunton, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite ended the day on two as Gloucestershire reached 13 without loss in reply to Somerset's 312.

Asked to bat first, Somerset were carried by wicketkeeper Steven Davies (87) and Craig Overton (54), the pair staging 116 for the second wicket to repair the innings.

And at the Oval, veteran seamer Kemar Roach went wicket-less from 18 miserly overs which cost 46 runs, as Leicestershire reached 215 for three against Surrey.

Opener Sam Evans struck exactly 100 not out, partnering with Hassan Azad (55) in a 130-run first-wicket stand.