Gloucestershire 212 (Ahmed 51, Balderson 4-44) and 118 for 8 (Dhariwal 44*, Balderson 4-23) lead Lancashire 134 (Balderson 38, Williams 6-24) by 196 runs

Williams, the New Zealand-born seamer who spent four seasons with Lancashire before joining Gloucestershire during the winter, took 6 for 24 as the visitors secured a first-innings lead of 78 – meaning it is now seven matches since the Red Rose strugglers last posted a first-innings total of 200 or more, a bleak run stretching back to May.

Balderson ended with 4 for 23 from a marathon 13-over spell as Gloucestershire struggled to 118 for 8 in their second innings, meaning they will resume on the third day with a lead of 196 – Kamran Dhariwal having grafted to a valuable unbeaten 44 in a sunlit evening session.

Resuming their first innings on 164 for 6 after a rain-affected first day, Gloucestershire added a handy 48 for their remaining four wickets.

Daaryoush Ahmed was the key figure, extending his overnight seventh-wicket partnership with Sai Kishore to 52 in 21 overs, and then moving to a maiden first-class half century.

Even after the 25-year-old Bristolian was well caught by a diving James Anderson at slip after facing 120 balls and hitting six fours and a six, there was more frustration for Lancashire as Matt Taylor thumped two sixes in a last-wicket stand – and that was followed by another of the grim starts that have characterised their recent batting performances, as they slumped to 16 for 3 at lunch.

The early damage was done by James Langridge, a tall 20-year-old left arm seamer making his second Championship appearance on loan from Somerset. In his second over, Langridge had Matty Hurst caught behind off a ball angled across him, and in his next, Harry Singh fell lbw to one that swung back in.

Keaton Jennings then became Williams’ first victim, edging to second slip after wicketkeeper James Bracey had moved up to the stumps to keep Jennings in his crease.

Rocky Flintoff joined Marcus Harris to hint at the partnership Lancashire needed until they were bowled in consecutive overs from Williams and Matt Taylor.
That was 40 for 5 and it became 43 for 6 when Williams had Ben Walkden caught behind.

Balderson, already the pick of Lancashire’s first innings bowlers with 4 for 44, counter-attacked effectively with 39 from 33 balls including nine boundaries, dominating a seventh-wicket stand of 66 with Arav Shetty.

But after Balderson was undone by a clever variation in tactics, chipping a slower ball from Williams to short extra cover where Dhariwal took a good diving catch, the remaining three wickets tumbled in the space of three overs – all to Williams, with Shetty caught behind off the inside edge, Mitchell Stanley bowled and Anderson lbw for a golden duck.

The hectic action continued when Gloucestershire batted again as Balderson struck three times in his second over – having Ed Middleton and Ollie Price caught in the slips, and winning a successful lbw appeal against Miles Hammond.

That was 12 for 3 which became 27 for 4 when Balderson bowled Joe Phillips, and Stanley then claimed the key wicket of Bracey before Walkden had both Ahmed and Kishore caught at midwicket – the youngster then swooping in the same position to catch Williams off the bowling of Anderson for the 22nd wicket of the day.