Gloucestershire closed the penultimate day at Bristol still 140 runs behind Essex at 175-3 in their follow-on.

Resuming at 72-3 in reply to Essex's daunting 510, an finish looked likely when they were bowled out for 195 before lunch and then slipped to 3-2.

Having lost their last five batsmen for 28 in less than 10 overs, Glos then lost two wickets in the first three overs of their second innings.

But Kadeer Ali and Chris Taylor hit fifties to bat out the last 34 overs.

Essex seamer Jahid Ahmed did the bulk of the damage in only his fifth first-class match.

The 22-year-old claimed a career-best 3-42 before bowling Irishman Will Porterfield and trapping Kiwi Hamish Marshall as Gloucestershire batted again.