Kadeer holds firm for Gloucs

Kadeer Ali's steadfast 92 denied Essex a three-day win over the bottom side

Gloucestershire's Kadeer Ali and Chris Taylor made unbeaten half-centuries to hold up Essex's charge towards victory in the LV County Championship Division Two game at Bristol.

A three-day finish looked possible when Gloucestershire were bowled out for 195 shortly after lunch and then, following on 315 behind, were reduced to three for two in their second innings.

But Taylor joined Ali in the middle following the dismissal of Rod Woodman for 13, and the pair batted out the last 34 overs of the day to take Gloucestershire on to 175 for three.

Ali struck 11 fours in his 92 not out, while Taylor's 58 included eight boundaries.

Earlier, Chris Wright, Jahid Ahmed and Ryan ten Doeschate each took three wickets in Gloucestershire's first innings.

The home side began the day on 72 for three and reached lunch on 163 for five after Wright had Taylor caught behind and David Brown caught at mid-on from a miscued pull.

But the early part of the afternoon session was disastrous for Gloucestershire as they lost their last five wickets for 28 runs in 9.4 overs.

The collapse was prompted by the dismissals of Will Porterfield and Steve Snell, who both batted with great application and solid technique during the morning.

Porterfield's 191-ball innings of 69, which included 11 boundaries, came to end when he attempted to leave a delivery from Ahmed and was given out lbw.

Ten Doeschate took the next three wickets as Snell was caught at cover for 32, Richard Dawson was leg before and Jon Lewis was caught behind.

Gloucestershire's dismal innings concluded when Steve Kirby skied a pull to square leg, which ensured a career-best return of 3-42 for Ahmed in his fifth first-class match.

Ahmed soon had more to celebrate when he bowled Porterfield and had Hamish Marshall lbw inside three overs of Gloucestershire's second innings.

It became 46 for three just before the tea interval when Tony Palladino took a low caught and bowled to dismiss Woodman.

But Ali and Taylor then dug in to show how comfortable batting could be on a slow and lifeless pitch.

Ali reached a patient half-century from 119 deliveries and by stumps was closing in on his third championship hundred of the summer.

Taylor brought up his fifty from 76 balls and will also hope to go on and complete a third century of the season.