Northants on top despite Gidman heroics

Gloucestershire 288 and 248 for 8 v Northamptonshire 557 for 9 dec
Scorecard

Jack Brooks put Northamptonshire firmly on course for victory at Bristol despite Gloucestershire's Will Gidman having a memorable day in the County Championship Division Two clash. The hosts were bowled out for 288 in their first innings, a deficit of 269, with Brooks taking 4 for 54 and Gidman making 116 not out, his maiden first-class century.

The same two players were to the fore when Gloucestershire followed on, Brooks claiming 3 for 43 and Gidman scoring 76 not out in a total of 248 for 8. Jon Lewis made 59. Despite Gidman's heroic efforts, his side go into the final day still 21 runs behind and will probably require some assistance from the weather if they are to save the match. Northamptonshire amassed 557 in their first innings.

Gloucestershire began day three on 172 for 7 in their first innings, with Gidman unbeaten on 72, and did well to secure two batting points. Lewis (18) and 16-year-old Craig Miles (19) shared in stands of 43 and 59 respectively in support of the left-hander, who reached his hundred off 176 balls, with 15 fours.

David Lucas finished with 3 for 72, but 26-year-old Brooks caught the eye by getting more bounce than any other bowler out of a placid pitch and was soon impressing again when Gloucestershire followed on. The home team's top order once more looked fragile as they slumped to 73 for 6. Brooks had Richard Coughtrie and Kane Williamson caught by Andrew Hall at first slip and clean-bowled Alex Gidman with a yorker.

Lucas had struck first, trapping opener Ian Cockbain lbw for 7, and later dismissed Jon Batty for his second duck of the match. Lee Daggett weighed in with the important wicket of Chris Taylor and a three-day finish looked likely. But Will Gidman returned to the crease less than two hours of playing time after walking off unbeaten in the first innings and again put his colleagues to shame.

Making prolific use of the cut and clip off his toes, the 27-year-old former Durham allrounder eased his way to a half-century off 69 balls, with nine fours, and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 90 with Ian Saxelby (24). It ended when Saxelby was bowled by James Middlebrook with five more overs remaining in the day. Gidman was dropped on 57 by David Sales at backward point off Lucas, and when Northamptonshire claimed the extra half-hour, Lewis responded by hitting Middlebrook for six over midwicket.

Lewis barely played a defensive shot in breezing to a half-century off just 39 balls, with five fours and two sixes, before being bowled by Andrew Hall, having shared a stand of 80 with Gidman who stood firm to the end.