County Championship: Gloucestershire edge into lead against Middlesex

Miles Hammond and Graeme van Buuren made half-centuries as Gloucestershire took control on day two of their County Championship match against Middlesex in Bristol.

Responding to the visitors’ first-innings 203, the home side reached 271-6, a lead of 68, on a day when 45 overs were lost to rain and bad light.

Hammond top-scored with an assured 81, while skipper Van Buuren contributed a season’s best 75, the fifth-wicket pair putting on 118.

Ben Charlesworth and Zaman Akhter then produced further defiance in an unbroken partnership of 38 for the seventh wicket.

Gloucestershire resumed on 82 for three after the first session was washed out and Tom Helm struck first to remove James Bracey for 16, Ryan Higgins taking a fine diving catch at third slip.

But Gloucestershire’s fifth-wicket pair proved more obdurate.

Hammond was first to 50, the 28-year-old left-hander going to the landmark from 67 balls with a handsome cover drive off Helm.

Playing more fluently following an uncertain start, Van Buuren posted a statement of intent when hoisting Ethan Bamber for six over backward square before pulling the same bowler for four to go to his half-century from 56 balls.

Hammond pulled Helm over deep mid-wicket for six as Gloucestershire reached tea on 231-4.

But Middlesex received an unexpected double helping hand at the start of the final session, Hammond and van Buuren succumbing to soft dismissals and departing within the space of nine balls.

Hammond nicked the first ball after tea from Bamber to Leus du Plooy at second slip and, in the next over, Van Buuren misjudged an attempted pull and was bowled by Josh De Caires.

Gloucestershire’s earlier authority was crumbling, but Akhter and Charlesworth, the latter batting with Ollie Price as a runner due to a troublesome ankle, frustrated Middlesex before bad light forced the players off.