Brookes stars as Worcs set up chance at Bears
Ethan Brookes climbed into Warwickshire's bowlers again, in record-breaking fashion, to keep Worcestershire on course for a vital County Championship victory at Edgbaston.Of his side's second innings total of 243, Brookes' share was 87 from 137 balls. He struck seven sixes which, added to his eight in the first innings, amounted to 15 in the match - a record for any individual at Edgbaston, surpassing the 12 by Ian Botham for Somerset in 1985 and Dean Jones for Australia in 1989.The former Warwickshire all-rounder's barrage left his old team needing 393 to win and they closed the third day on 55-2 after losing both openers in the first four overs.Worcestershire resumed on the third morning on 31 without loss, already 180 ahead, but were pegged back by disciplined bowling. The opening partnership reached 80 in 32 overs before three wickets fell for 12 runs in 51 balls. Gareth Roderick (50) edged an expansive drive at Beau Webster. Jake Libby's 149 minutes of toil for 25 ended when he pulled Ed Barnard to mid-wicket. Kashif Ali collected a tortuous 29-ball duck when he pulled Corey Rocchiccioli to short fine leg.As Warwickshire went on the defensive, Rocchiccioli bowling on or outside leg-stump, Worcestershire's batters appeared unsure how to handle such a big advantage. That advantage began to diminish as Ethan Bamber bowled Adam Hose and had Tom Taylor caught at point and Rocchiccioli's leg-stump probing was rewarded when Brett D'Oliviera tickled a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Kai Smith and Ben Allison nudged to leg slip.Seven wickets fell for 52 runs in 22 overs but Brookes defended diligently as he awaited support. It arrived from Bertie Foreman, who got the scoreboard moving again before edging Webster to second slip, and then Adam Finch. Having added 88 in the first innings, this time Brookes and Finch put on 91.The cricket descended into farce after tea as Warwickshire went ultra-negative. Rocchiccioli wheeled away while Olly Hannon-Dalby bowled far outside off stump to deny Brookes scope to seek the short boundary. Warwickshire's supporters bore it stoically though if an opposing team had resorted to such tactics some forthright views would have emanated from the stands. The grim spectacle concluded when Brookes hoisted Barnard to deep fine leg and Finch sliced Webster to second slip,Warwickshire faced a target of 393 in a day plus 26 overs, weather permitting, and in moderate light, soon lost their openers. Rob Yates was trapped in front by a rapid shooter from Khurram Shahzad. Alex Davies chipped to mid-wicket. Dan Mousley and Zen Malik batted assiduously to the close but Worcestershire would be disappointed not to bank their first Championship win at Edgbaston since 1993 on Friday.
Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ollie Watkins' telling exit comment as Man Utd add Aston Villa star to three-man wishlist
Manchester United have expressed an interest in Ollie Watkins but Aston Villa insist their player isn't for sale, even though the Englishman has made it clear he will not accept a squad role Ollie Watkins has made it clear he will never be one of those players who his "happy to sit on the bench" after Aston Villa rejected an advance from Manchester United to land the striker. The Red Devils are on the lookout for a No 9 and have shortlisted three players with the England international among them. Villa signed Watkins several years ago after he impressed in the Championship and he's since proven himself in the Premier League. Villa, who lost Jhon Duran back in January, have made it known that they have no interest in selling their forward despite interest from those on the red half of Manchester. Watkins will hope to return to the club's first choice striker after a difficult few months to end the season. Ironically it was the loan arrival of Marcus Rashford from United that saw Watkins' playing time suffer as a result. Rashford has since left and joined Barcelona on loan, but it means Watkins will face less competition as things stand. Last term Villa enjoyed a run to the last eight of the Champions League, beating Club Brugge, before running PSG close in the quarter-finals. For that tie Unai Emery opted for Rashford over Watkins - which was not well received. The ex-Brentford striker made it clear that was not a role he wanted. Watkins said last season: "He's the manager at the end of the day and you've got to respect his decision, but I'm not one of those players that's happy to sit on the bench. I was fuming I wasn't playing and I let him know that." Emery also had Marco Asensio as a loanee for the second part of the season, but he and Rashford have since left. Villa are yet to make any major attacking additions this summer and the Spanish manager has rejected the prospect of Watkins leaving with Arsenal keen on him back in January. Emery said: "I don't want (to sell Watkins). It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad." He also maintained: "Watkins is our striker." United are also thought to have considered moves for PSG's Randal Kolo Muani and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. Ruben Amorim though has claimed that he would be happy to go on with his squad as it stands, claiming: "If I start the season with this squad I will be happy."
Edinburgh Reporter
2 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Macdonald bolsters East tennis men
East of Scotland tennis men pulled as rabbit out of the hat today going into a GB Summer County Cup clash with Northamptonshire at Eastbourne which could be crucial to their chances of remaining in the top flight, Division One. Linking up with the squad and going straight into action is Alan Macdonald, GB veterans team member and current doubles coach to Jamie Murray. Macdonald is a long established county week regular. Macdonald was initially unavailable but finds himself partnering Sam McNeil after East lost ground in as 3-6 defeat by Warwickshire having won their opening match. East may have gone down yesterday but it was tantalisingly close with both the Scott Duncan/Euan McIntosh and Lance Nisbet/James MacKinlay combinations losing out in deciding tie-breaks. Meanwhile, East women were due to face North Wales in Group Four at Cheltenham having added the scalp of Norfolk (5-4) to an opening day victory over Lincolnshire (8-1). After the first round of matches East led 3-0 and looked to be cruising but it took a comfortable final round win for Sarah McFadyen and Shaylin Holt to get them over the line. Like this: Like Related
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Wrexham ‘make ambitious approach' for former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen
Wrexham have made an approach for Christian Eriksen, according to the former Manchester United midfielder's agent. The 33-year-old Denmark international is without a club after his contract with United expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. And now the Championship newcomers have reportedly made an ambitious proposal to sign him. Eriksen's agent Martin Schoots told the Daily Mail: 'Wrexham are really upgrading everything both on and off the field, and it is a hugely impressive project, as you can see from the presence of people like (chief executive) Michael Williamson there. 'But Christian still wants to play in a first-tier competition and he absolutely wants to stay in Western Europe. 'There are some contacts going on but it has to suit both sides.' Signing Eriksen, who has won 144 caps for Denmark and has also played for Tottenham and Brentford in the Premier League, would be a major statement of Wrexham's Championship intent. Eriksen made 35 appearances in all competitions for United – scoring five goals – and has also played for Ajax and Inter Milan in his distinguished career. Wrexham's Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have showed plenty of ambition ahead of the Red Dragons' return to the second tier of English football after a 43-year absence. They have already added Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward, left-back Liberato Cacace, midfielders Lewis O'Brien and George Thomason and forwards Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie to their ranks after a third consecutive promotion. It has been reported that Wrexham, who begin their Championship campaign at Southampton on August 9, have broken their transfer record twice this summer.
