Thursday 21 May 2015 10:46, UK
Peter Handscomb's third half-century in his last four County Championship innings for Gloucestershire failed to stop Kent taking the upper hand on the opening day at Bristol.
The Australian scored 69 to provide some backbone to an otherwise flimsy batting effort after the home side had been put in on a day reduced to 67 overs by heavy rain, which wiped out the morning session.
By the close on Monday, Gloucestershire had been bowled out for a meagre 193 despite reaching tea 87-2.
Ian Cockbain saw his off stump pegged back by Matt Coles, who then took a good return catch to remove Hamish Marshall for an eight-ball duck and leave the hosts 94-4.
That became 129-5 Geraint Jones was bowled by Calem Haggett and Handscomb was proving the only resistance, reaching his half-century off 85 balls.
Partners continued to fall at the other end though, Kieran Noema-Barnett trapped in front by Darren Stevens for eight and the following over Handscomb nicked off to Sam Billings.
The clatter of wickets continued, with Stevens sending back Craig Miles to leave Gloucestershire 176-8 and in danger of failing to collect a batting point.
David Payne and Liam Norwell added 17 before the latter was caught behind off Ivan Thomas, who quickly followed up by removing Matt Taylor to end the day's play.
Lancashire's bowlers took full advantage of a helpful pitch to leave Leicestershire still fighting to save the follow-on after a rain-shortened second day at Grace Road.
Only skipper Mark Cosgrove, who closed on 65no, passed 50 for the Foxes as the ball seamed and swung throughout an extended single session of 48 overs and they closed on 195-6 in reply to Lancashire's 368.
Lancashire added just 12 more to their overnight total, but those 12 runs did enable Steven Croft (102) to reach his century before he was caught and bowled by Ben Raine and Lancashire's four frontline bowlers then went to work.
Needing 219 to save the follow-on, Leicestershire made the worst possible start when opener Angus Robson was given out caught by Karl Brown at short-leg off the bowling of Kyle Jarvis. The young Australian made his disagreement at the decision uncomfortably apparent.
Ned Eckersley was then bowled by Tom Bailey before Lewis Hill nicked a viscious one from from Jordan Clark and Neil Pinner then hung his bat out at a Nathan Buck out-swinger abd was unfussily held by Croft at second slip.
Niall O'Brien added 59 for the fifth wicket with Cosgrove and was dropped twice before Alex Davies snaffled a simple chance.
At 137-5 Leicestershire were still 231 adrift, but Raine gave an increasingly fluent Cosgrove good support in a partnership of 51 for the sixth wicket, but in the penultimate over of the day the all-rounder chopped a short wide delivery from Buck - a former Leicestershire team-mate - into his stumps.
Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph led the way with an unbeaten 81 in his side's 187-5 off 69 overs against Essex at the Swalec Stadium.
After a washed-out morning session, visitors Essex won the toss and inserted their hosts, who laboured to 118-4 after 45 overs only for the rain to return.
When it did relent, Rudolph dug in alongside Mark Wallace (15) and Graham Wagg (17no) to push Glamorgan towards respectability.
Rudolph's his opening partner James Kettleborough had earlier made just one in 19 balls before he was trapped in front by James Porter.
William Bragg was then trapped by Graham Napier before Ryan ten Doeschate claimed his two wickets, including that of Chris Cooke for 20 as the weather closed in.
Napier then claimed his second when play resumed, Nick Browne taking the catch to remove Wallace.
No play was possible on the opening day of Northamptonshire's match against Surrey at Wantage Road.
Poor overnight weather prevented any early prospect of play and the rain continued through until the scheduled lunch interval.
The clouds then lifted in early afternoon, prompting two inspections, but the rain returned at around 3.30pm to render the outfield unplayable for the rest of the day.
