Turner improves Derbyshire's chances

Derbyshire 413 and 30 for 2 v Gloucestershire 220 and 302 (f/o) v
Scorecard

Mark Turner bowled Derbyshire to the verge of a convincing victory after Gloucestershire collapsed again in the Division Two match at Derby. The former Durham and Somerset paceman took four wickets for 79 runs as Gloucestershire lost their last six wickets for 82 to leave the home side a victory target of only 110.

Jon Lewis struck twice in the first five overs as Derbyshire struggled to 30 for 2 but they need just 80 more runs and unless there is heavy rain on the last day look certain to complete a win that will see them move up to third in the table.

Gloucestershire had threatened to set a more challenging total when they reached 220 for 4 but Turner cut through the lower order to send the visitors sliding to 302 all out. Five Gloucestershire batsmen got to 40 but none of them could play the big innings which would have given their bowlers a chance of winning the game.

They started the third day already one wicket down and needing another 186 to avoid an innings defeat but Chris Dent and Kane Williamson raised their hopes of staging a fightback with a stand of 91. The overcast, humid conditions suggested there would be swing for Derbyshire's pace attack but it was the offspin of Greg Smith that made the breakthrough.

Dent was one run away from a half-century when Smith tempted him into a big drive which he edged to slip, where Wes Durston took a good catch high above his head. Williamson resisted for two hours for 75 but Tony Palladino caught him on the crease before lunch and Gloucestershire suffered another blow when Chris Taylor went early in the afternoon.

Taylor had looked in good touch and his 43 included seven fours but Tim Groenewald got a delivery to move away to take the edge and Luke Sutton held an excellent low catch. Ian Cockbain helped skipper Alex Gidman take the score to 220 but Turner had him caught behind for 19 and after a break for bad light, Will Gidman edged to second slip.

His brother reached 50 by clipping Turner through midwicket for his eighth four but was then unlucky to be given out lbw when he was struck high above the knee roll by Palladino. Richard Coughtrie played another gutsy innings but no-one could stay with him and Gloucestershire's only chance of defending a low total was to take early wickets.

Lewis obliged when Wayne Madsen, who has now failed to pass 10 in eight of his last nine championship innings, played on and Chesney Hughes skied a pull to deep square leg - but, barring a spectacular collapse, Derbyshire should wrap up victory.