Bowlers dominate third day at Bristol

Surrey 186 and 55 for 2 v Gloucestershire 106 for 5 dec.
Scorecard

Kevin Pietersen's hopes of boosting his confidence with a big score for Surrey at Bristol were shattered in the first over of the third day's play. The England batsman fended a lifting delivery from Gloucestershire's Gemaal Hussain to Chris Dent at second slip to depart without adding to his first-day score of 40 not out.

Resuming on 112 for 3 after the second day was washed out, the visitors were bowled out for only 186, Rory Hamilton-Brown also making 40, as Jon Lewis and Anthony Ireland claimed three wickets each. In reply, Gloucestershire, weakened by a stomach bug at the club, had reached 106 for 5 when they declared to set up a decisive finish. By the close Surrey had made 55 for 2 in their second innings to lead by 135.

The home team took the field for the morning session without captain Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall because of illness. Several other players were affected to a lesser extent. Hamilton-Brown took three runs off the opening delivery from Hussain, giving Pietersen the strike. The third ball of the over appeared to take off and Dent held a sharp one-handed catch above his head.

Pietersen had faced 61 balls and hit five fours and a six. He had batted beautifully in difficult conditions on the opening day and must have expected a longer stay. Hamilton-Brown's typically positive 51-ball innings ended when he was caught at mid-off by Lewis off Ireland to make the score 152 for 5.

From there only Gary Wilson (34) held up the Gloucestershire bowlers on a lively pitch. There was a maiden first-class wicket for 18-year-old offspinner Jack Taylor, who yorked Chris Tremlett for five. Surrey were 186 for 8 at lunch and failed to add to that score as Ireland and Lewis polished off the tail.

Former Surrey player Jonathan Batty's miserable first season with Gloucestershire continued when he was dismissed for 10 with the reply on 26. He got a leading edge to Tremlett and was caught by Tim Linley running in from mid-off.

Dent followed lbw in the same Tremlett over for a duck, but Chris Taylor helped Porterfield add 75 before falling to Stewart Meaker for 33 on the stroke of tea. Porterfield had reached his half-century off 87 balls with five fours and a six, but he fell early in the final session, caught behind when trying to force a delivery from Tremlett away off the back foot.

When Jack Taylor became a fourth victim for Tremlett, Gidman, who was due in next, declared 80 runs behind. Surrey lost Jason Roy and Mark Ramprakash, the latter bowled driving at Ireland for 33, in extending their advantage.