COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Bristol:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Kent 264, Gloucestershire 21-0 (Glos 3pts, Kent 2pts)
23-26 September

New Zealander James Franklin's 5-30 included a spell of 3-9 in 17 balls

James Franklin took a season's best 5-30 as Gloucestershire took control over Division Two champions Kent on the first day at Nevil Road.

The hosts, who have an outside chance of promotion, bowled Kent out for 264, Jon Lewis supporting with 4-50.

Simon Cook smacked an unbeaten 60, while Rob Key hit 50 to add some respectability to the Kent total.

Gloucestershire then reached 21-0 when bad light ended play 14 overs before the scheduled close.

But it was Franklin's earlier efforts that most caught the eye.

The New Zealand Test all-rounder, who has now taken 50 wickets in all competitions this summer, as well as hitting 1,315 runs, is wanted back at Nevil Road as the county's overseas player next season.

And, after his skipper Alex Gidman had won the toss and invited the visitors to take first use of a pitch that looked likely to favour seam bowling, Franklin showed why by dismissing Darren Stevens, Geraint Jones and James Hockley in the space of 17 balls.

Key (50) and Jones (44) had helped Kent to 101-1. But that rapidly became 139-6 before Alex Blake (47) and Cook, who smacked his 60 not out off just 39 balls, ensured a respectable total on a green pitch.

And Franklin's efforts were all the more impressive, given that Gloucestershire's main strike bowler Steve Kirby failed to add to his 62-wicket haul, limping off with sore shins after taking 0-73 in just 12.1 overs.

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