BRACEY IS NOW ONE TO WATCH
JAMES BRACEY hit an unbeaten 83 as Gloucestershire made it two wins from two to start the season.
The 23-year-old batsmankeeper added to his first-innings century to ensure an eight-wicket win over Somerset in the LV= Insurance County Championship.
And with England looking for talent with Ben Stokes (below) out injured and others lacking form or playing in the IPL, team-mate Chris Dent sang Bracey’s praises.
Dent said: “He’s shown how much he has improved over the last year. He was obviously a very good player but I would say it was more potential at that time.
“Now he’s showing that he’s a fantastic performer and can score runs against great attacks.
“His two knocks will probably be up there with some of the best he has for Gloucestershire. He is going from strength to strength. I’ve got so much praise for him and how good he is becoming.”
Spinner Simon
Harmer took 5-57 in 24 overs as Essex stunned Durham, bowling them out for 123 and a 44-run win at Chelmsford.
Needing 168 to win, Durham appeared to be coasting on 83-3 but when Jack Burnham fell to Harmer it sparked a collapse, with five wickets falling for 25 runs as Essex snatched victory.
Tim Bresnan led the way as Warwickshire extended Nottinghamshire’s dismal record in first-class cricket to 29 matches without a win.
The 36-year-old was unbeaten on 68, sharing a stand of 113 with England fast bowler Olly Stone as Warwickshire chased down a target of 333 to win by three wickets at Trent Bridge, despite Dominic Sibley being unable to bat because of a broken finger.
Bresnan had an escape on 56 when Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper Tom Moores put down a difficult chance off Stuart Broad but had earned his luck and his eight boundaries, completing the victory by running two to backward point off Dane Paterson with 8.1 overs to spare.