Notts have mountain to climb against Gloucestershire

For the third consecutive day Gloucestershire held the upper hand in their Championship match against Notts at Trent Bridge.

After Mark Alleyne set the home side an improbable victory target of 472 he saw his bowlers make immediate inroads, picking up three wickets before close of play.

With just the fourth ball of the innings Guy Welton drove wildly at James Averis and smeared the ball to gully, where Jeremy Snape took a good, low catch - a duck to add to Welton's poor recent run of form.

Darren Bicknell and Greg Blewett looked to have seized the initiative back towards the batamen as they added 36 but then, for the second time in the match, the Australian tried to crash Averis through the covers and was smartly taken by a jubilant Jack Russell behind the stumps.

David Lucas came out to bat as a nightwatchman, having made a competent 41 in the first innings, but before he'd faced a ball Bicknell had been trapped lbw on the back foot by Michael Cawdron

The day ended as it began with Lucas and Usman Afzaal together at the crease and Notts in crisis.

When Gloucestershire had batted for a second time Kim Barnett (45) and Dominic Hewson (51) put on 81 for the first wicket and then Matt Windows with 73, Chris Taylor (19), Mark Alleyne (17), Jeremy Snape (16) all made useful contributions as the home bowlers laboured.

The declaration eventually came at 265-5 as Martyn Ball (22no) and Jeremy Snape (21no) were trying to outgun each other in an entertaining and rapid stand of 30.

For Notts Gareth Clough (3/69) and Creg Blewett (2/20) shared the wickets in an otherwise disappointing bowling performance.

During the morning session Usman Afzaal was the final man out, for 88, as Notts were dismissed for 267. Gloucestershire, with a first innings lead of 206, elected not to enforce the follow-on and batting for a second time they stretched their advantage to 471.

Notts will have to bat significantly better on the final day and still hope for intervention from the weather if they are to have any chance of avoiding a heavy defeat.