County Championship: James Bracey leads Gloucestershire response against Derbyshire

Derbyshire batter Matt Lamb and Gloucestershire all-rounder Beau Webster set memorable personal milestones on the second day of the County Championship match at Bristol.

Unbeaten on 186 overnight, Lamb completed his maiden first-class double century before falling for 207 in a Derbyshire total of 526 all out. Anuj Dal contributed 62 as the visitors bagged maximum batting bonus points.

Webster’s 6-100 from 26 overs was a career-best on his home debut for Gloucestershire. The 6ft 7ins Australian seamer had never before taken even five wickets in a first-class innings.

By the close, the home side had responded to Derbyshire’s huge total with 243-4, James Bracey leading the way with an unbeaten 87 and sharing an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 112 with skipper Graeme van Buuren, who was 61 not out.

With Derbyshire having begun the day on 434-5, Lamb and Dal batted with few alarms and an edge wide of the slips for four off Ajeet Singh Dale took Lamb to his double ton off 254 balls, with 30 fours and a six.

His innings spanning six hours and 19 minutes ended when he edged a short of a length delivery from Singh Dale through to wicketkeeper Bracey to make the score 487-6.

Alex Thomson quickly fell lbw to a Webster yorker but Dal was looking well set as he brought up an elegant half-century.

Webster made two quick breakthroughs to dismiss Zak Chappell – giving the bowler his fifth wicket – and Sam Connors before Dal was last man out, caught behind looking to attack Singh Dale.

The home side’s reply got off to a poor start when they lost Cameron Bancroft and Ollie Price cheaply to slip to 34-2.

When Miles Hammond, on 18, had his middle stump ripped out of the ground by Dal, Gloucestershire were in peril at 63-3 but opener Ben Charlesworth and Bracey fought back.

The two left-handers were parted in the final session with the total on 131 when Charlesworth edged Chappell behind, at which point the hosts were still 395 runs behind.

But Bracey and Van Buuren, stood firm to guide Gloucestershire away from trouble.