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Gloucestershire v Middlesex
29/06/2010
LV=County Championship Division Two
Day Two. At Bristol.
By Richard Latham
James Franklin became the latest victim of Gloucestershire's century hoodoo as his side built a commanding position on the second day at Bristol.
The Kiwi all-rounder was dismissed for 99 out of a total of 404-8, which meant a healthy lead of 168. Hamish Marshall contributed 68, Alex Gidman 61, and Chris Dent 53.
Franklin could barely believe it when he top edged a pull shot off Neil Dexter and was caught at deep square by Tom Smith, having faced 153 balls and hit 7 fours and 2 sixes.
The error left Gloucestershire still without a centurion in the Championship this season. Franklin has two other scores in the nineties, while Alex Gidman (twice) and Chris Dent have also suffered the misfortune of falling just short of three figures.
The consolation for Franklin is that he has played a major role in setting up a victory opportunity.
Gloucestershire began the day on 81-2 and progressed cautiously as overnight batsmen Marshall and Dent consolidated their team's position with half-centuries. Marshall was first to the landmark off 75 balls, with 7 fours and a six.
Not for the first time England Under-19 player Dent showed good temperament and followed his more experienced partner to fifty off 112 deliveries, striking 6 fours and a six.
The partnership of 126 in 31 overs was broken when Dent fended a chest-high ball from Toby Roland-Jones to Scott Newman at short square-leg.
Skipper Gidman helped take the total to 193-3 at lunch. But there was a setback when Marshall fell to the second ball of the afternoon session, bowled pushing forward to Neil Dexter without addition to the score.
When Chris Taylor was also bowled, shouldering arms in Dexter’s next over it was 199-5 and Gloucestershire were still 37 behind.
But Gidman reached his fifty off 86 balls, with 8 fours as he and Franklin produced a partnership of 76 in 23 overs to put their side on top. It ended when the captain played across a quicker ball from leg-spinner Dawid Malan and departed lbw.
Middlesex immediately took the second new ball, but neither Pedro Collins nor Tim Murtagh could force another breakthrough.
At tea it was 319-6, with Franklin on 45. Jon Lewis made a valuable 30 and by the time he was run out by bowler Tom Smith attempting a quick single the Gloucestershire lead was 88.
Franklin hit 5 fours in an 87-ball fifty and then added his 2 sixes. He looked sure to reach three figures, but it wasn't to be.
Gloucestershire still went on to maximum batting points and look well placed to boost their promotion challenge.
It was a tough day in the field for Middlesex, who were without Owais Shah because of a back problem. Collins also suffered a back injury when diving for a ball, but was able to take the second new ball after treatment.
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