Hussain puts Gloucestershire on brink of victory

Northamptonshire 124 and 128 for 7 v Gloucestershire 302
Scorecard

Gemaal Hussain was the pick of the bowlers as Gloucestershire took 15 Northamptonshire wickets to move to the brink of victory on the second day of their County Championship clash at Wantage Road.

On a day where their promotion prospects nosedived, Northamptonshire were skittled out for 124, 29 short of avoiding the follow-on, with Hussain (3 for 39), James Franklin (3 for 22) and Steve Kirby (3 for 32) all weighing in. Gloucestershire's attack then reduced the hosts to 128 for 7, with Hussain taking 4 for 20 as the visitors reignited their hopes of reaching Division One.

Northamptonshire began the day on 4 for 2, 298 runs behind their opponents, with Ben Howgego yet to score and Alex Wakely beginning his innings. The hosts lost both batsmen in the space of three balls with Howgego (17) being pinned lbw by Hussain before Franklin sent Wakely's (21) off stump tumbling with the first ball of the 13th over.

Rain then interrupted play for 24 minutes and when it resumed, Northamptonshire captain Andrew Hall departed on 23 when he was superbly caught by Ed Young, diving to his left at square leg, off the bowling of Kirby. Rob Newton was bowled by a terrific delivery by Kirby and David Sales made 25 before edging his attempted drive off Hussain to wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty in the following over.

Zimbabwe international Elton Chigumbura then bottom-edged Kirby onto his middle stump to leave Hall's men in all sorts of trouble. Franklin ended the home innings with two wickets in the 37th over when Jack Brooks launched him to Jon Lewis at deep mid-on and Lee Daggett edged him to Batty after facing two balls without scoring.

Now forced to follow-on, still 178 runs behind Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire lost Stephen Peters for 25 when his off stump was taken out by Hussain. The same bowler then dismissed Howgego for the second time in the day when he was well caught by Batty diving low to his right.

Kirby bowled Sales in the penultimate over before tea and Rob Newton edged Lewis to Chris Dent at second slip before play was stopped for bad light. Heavy rain then began to fall, meaning a lengthy delay and the loss of 26 overs but when play resumed, Wakely smashed Hussain to Young at backward point before Hall was caught by Batty off Franklin.

Chigumbura then clouted Hussain to Lewis at mid-off as the home side slid towards an innings defeat.