Miles Hammond and Graeme van Buuren made half-centuries as Gloucestershire took management on day two of their County Championship match towards Middlesex in Bristol.
Responding to the guests’ first-innings 203, the house facet reached 271-6, a lead of 68, on a day when 45 overs had been misplaced to rain and unhealthy mild.
Hammond top-scored with an assured 81, whereas skipper Van Buuren contributed a season’s finest 75, the fifth-wicket pair placing on 118.
Ben Charlesworth and Zaman Akhter then produced additional defiance in an unbroken partnership of 38 for the seventh wicket.
Gloucestershire resumed on 82 for 3 after the primary session was washed out and Tom Helm struck first to take away James Bracey for 16, Ryan Higgins taking a superb diving catch at third slip.
However Gloucestershire’s fifth-wicket pair proved extra stubborn.
Hammond was first to 50, the 28-year-old left-hander going to the landmark from 67 balls with a good-looking cowl drive off Helm.
Taking part in extra fluently following an unsure begin, Van Buuren posted a press release of intent when hoisting Ethan Bamber for six over backward sq. earlier than pulling the identical bowler for 4 to go to his half-century from 56 balls.
Hammond pulled Helm over deep mid-wicket for six as Gloucestershire reached tea on 231-4.
However Middlesex obtained an sudden double serving to hand at first of the ultimate session, Hammond and van Buuren succumbing to delicate dismissals and departing throughout the area of 9 balls.
Hammond nicked the primary ball after tea from Bamber to Leus du Plooy at second slip and, within the subsequent over, Van Buuren misjudged an tried pull and was bowled by Josh De Caires.
Gloucestershire’s earlier authority was crumbling, however Akhter and Charlesworth, the latter batting with Ollie Worth as a runner attributable to a difficult ankle, pissed off Middlesex earlier than unhealthy mild compelled the gamers off.