Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
LV=County Championship Division Two
Day Three. At Derby.
By Richard Latham
A terrific final day is in prospect at Derby after a solid Gloucestershire batting display, highlighted by 98 from Chris Dent, made all results possible.
The visitors began day three on 47-1, still requiring 56 runs to make their hosts bat again, but progressed to 403 all out.
That set Derbyshire a testing 301 to win and when bad light ended play 15 overs early they had progressed to five without loss.
Steve Kirby set the tone for his side's battling display by occupying the crease for 49 balls as nightwatchman. He made only 13, but helped Abdul-Kadeer Ali add 64 for the second wicket.
When Kirby fell to Tim Groenewald, Jonathan Batty proved equally obdurate in batting for almost an hour and 20 minutes to make 18 as Kadeer became Groenewald's second victim, having marked his return to the side with 74, made off 106 balls, with 12 fours.
Batty was caught off Greg Smith to make it 185-4, but by then Dent was set and the England Under-19 batsman displayed his promise with 14 fours and a six in his exhilarating 85-ball knock.
Hamish Marshall contributed 40 to a fifth-wicket stand of 67 and when the unfortunate Dent was caught by Robin Peterson off Atif Sheikh just two short of a maiden Championship century his side were 281-6 and 178 in front.
Still the recovery went on. Skipper Alex Gidman (42), James Franklin (37) and Jon Lewis, with a typically rapid 34 off 26 balls, made Derbyshire fight for every wicket.
The only disappointment was that from 398-7 Gloucestershire could add only five more runs. But it had still been a fine team effort and a long day in the field for the Derbyshire players.
They may have been relieved when only 2.4 overs could be bowled at the start of their second innings before the weather closed in.
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