James Franklin hits 99 as Gloucestershire take control

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Bristol:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Middlesex 236, Gloucestershire 404-8
Glos 7pts, Middlesex 3pts
Match scorecard

Franklin was one run short of his first ton of the season

All-rounder James Franklin hit 99 as Gloucestershire built a considerable lead over Middlesex on day two.

Resuming on 81-2, the hosts ended play on 404-8 to take a 168-run lead into the third day.

Franklin was just one run off being the hosts' first Championship centurion of the season before being caught by Tom Smith off Neil Dexter's delivery.

Chris Dent (53), Hamish Marshall (68) and Alex Gidman (61) also helped put Gloucestershire firmly ahead.

Middlesex struggled in the field, with Owais Shah sidelined for most of the day with a back injury.

And Gloucestershire took advantage with overnight batsmen Marshall and Dent sharing a partnership of 126 before the England Under-19 international was caught at short-leg by Scott Newman when trying to fend off Toby Roland-Jones's chest-high ball.

But Gidman and Franklin continued the hosts' resilient display with the bat, leaving them to feel confident going into the third day.