LONDON, CMC — Barbadian Jofra Archer continued to press his credentials as a genuine all-rounder with another handy knock for Sussex, as they took control of their County Championship game against Gloucestershire on day three here Thursday.
The 21-year-old, in only the seventh first class match of his career, struck 39 down the order to help Sussex build an imposing 435 in their first innings at Bristol, in reply to the hosts’ 229.
Captain Ben Browne top-scored with an unbeaten 118 — his 13th first class hundred — to follow up on Luke Wells’s 75 and opener Chris Nash’s 66 on the second day.
Resuming the day on 208 for four, Sussex were lifted by an 85-run stand for the eighth wicket between Browne and Archer.
Browne faced 173 deliveries and counted 17 fours while Archer stroked five fours in his 88-ball knock before he was dismissed by off-spinner Jack Taylor.
Behind by 206 runs, Gloucestershire were 74 for one but lost two late wickets to slide to the close on 88 for three — still requiring a further 118 runs to avoid an innings defeat.