Bracewell takes four wickets in NZ warm-up

LONDON: Doug Bracewell claimed an impressive four-wicket haul on the second day of New Zealand’s warm-up match with Derbyshire on Sunday to strengthen his claim for a place in the tourists’ Test side.

Having declared on 289 for five on day one, New Zealand bowled the English county side out for 154 as Bracewell finished with figures of 428. By the close of play, they were 199 for five in their second innings -- a lead of 334 -- thanks mainly to an unbroken century stand from BJ Watling ( 61) and Tom Latham (47).

Bracewell missed England’s tour of New Zealand after cutting his foot on some glass as he cleaned up after a party and is now hoping to force his way into the team for the forthcoming two-Test series with Alastair Cook’s men.

“I was looking forward to the previous series and I felt my form was pretty good going in, so I was gutted,” he said.

“There was a few stories but I just stood on a piece of glass while I was cleaning up. I had a few mates round the night before and it happened in the morning.