COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Beckenham:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Kent 231 & 266 Gloucestershire 166 & 131-5 (Glos 3pts, Kent 4pts)
30 June-3 July 2009 (Play begins at 1100 BST)

Cook proved successful with bat as well as ball on day three

Kent remain in full control against Gloucestershire, ending day three with a 200-run lead at Beckenham.

The hosts made 266 all out in their second innings, thanks to belligerent batting from Simon Cook (40no) and Ryan McLaren (42) in the tail.

In reply Gloucestershire began well, easing to 79-2, with James Tredwell (2-50) accounting for Kadeer Ali (38).

Azhar Mahmood (3-11) stopped Hamish Marshall on 45, as the visitors stumbled onto 131-5 before stumps.

Kent's first-innings work with bat and ball looked as though it could be in vain after a middle-order collapse in their second left them struggling on 179-9, but a magnificent 87 partnership from Cook and McLaren returned them to a strong position.

Gloucestershire's most consistent partnership came between Marshall and Ali, the duo hitting 59 between them, before Ali was removed after opener William Porterfield lasted just 24 balls for his 11 runs.

Mahmood's work with the new ball for Kent was the catalyst, while Tredwell's contribution was also crucial but came at a cost of 50 runs.

Alex Gidman and Craig Spearman soon followed, at least reaching double figures, to leave Gloucestershire's hopes resting on the efforts of Vikram Banerjee and James Franklin going into the final day.

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