Gloucestershire's 10th-wicket pair of Anthony Ireland and Ian Saxelby defied Middlesex for 22 overs to earn an unlikely Championship draw at Bristol.

Ed Joyce hit 86 not out to help Middlesex move from their overnight 86-2 to 212-4 declared, a lead of 323.

The hosts slumped to 147-9 as Tim Murtagh and Alan Richardson shared six wickets and Steve Finn took 2-27.

But Ireland (16no) faced 91 balls and trialist Saxelby (11no) 67 of his own as the hosts reached 174-9 at stumps.

Gloucestershire took six points and Middlesex claimed 10, but ultimately the visitors were made to pay for batting too slowly in the final session on day three.

They made only 86-2 off 36 overs in that session when building on a lead of 111 and quicker progress would have meant an earlier declaration on the final day.

Joyce and Owais Shah (65) added 90 in 14 overs before Shah, who faced 92 balls and hit a six and seven fours, was caught behind trying to run a ball from Jon Lewis down to third man.

First innings centurion Eoin Morgan fell for a duck, but Joyce profited from being dropped on 77 and was unbeaten at the declaration, having also hit seven fours in his 141-ball innings.

The Middlesex seamers ensured a Gloucestershire victory was never likely, with Murtagh returning 3-33 and Richardson 3-34.

Will Porterfield was pinned lbw by Richardson for five before lunch, which Gloucestershire reached on 20-1, and the afternoon session brought the wickets of Hamish Marshall, Kadeer Ali, Marcus North and Chris Taylor for the addition of just 89 runs.

Murtagh claimed three of those wickets and then Alex Gidman fell lbw to Finn, playing across the line with the total 115-6.

After Lewis and Steve Snell had been caught acrobatically by wicketkeeper Ben Scott the biggest threat to the visitors appeared to come from the failing light as the final hour approached.

Umpires Vanburn Holder and Mike Harris consulted at 147-8 and Middlesex captain Joyce was forced to turn to his slow bowlers.

Murali Kartik quickly had Steve Kirby caught by Scott but Saxelby and Ireland proved much more stubborn, holding out against pace and spin as the skies brightened in a courageous and determined effort.