Tavare ton cements Gloucestershire's control

Gloucestershire 179 and 208 for 2 (Tavare 101*) lead Kent 164 (Billings 73, Miles 3-20) by 223 runs
Scorecard

Gloucestershire opener Will Tavare hit an unbeaten century to bat his side into a strong position at the mid-point of their final game in Canterbury.

The 24-year-old batted sensibly in testing conditions on the ground his uncle Chris graced for 15 seasons, to post 101 not out and see the visitors through to 208 for 2 and a lead of 223 after two days of an enthralling tussle.

Having banked a slender 15-run lead after the first innings, Gloucestershire appear very well placed for only their fourth Division Two win of the summer having bossed Wednesday's proceedings.

Batting for a second time by 2.25pm having dismissed Kent for 164, Tavare ensured his side continued to dominate with a studious innings typical of those played during his uncle's 31-match England Test career.

He hit nine graceful fours in his 76-ball 50 during a 106-run opening stand with Chris Dent, who was only three short of his own half-century when his miscued pull skied to mid-wicket to gift David Griffiths his maiden championship wicket for the county.

In his next over, Griffiths bamboozled Gareth Roderick with a slower off-cutter that snared the right-hander leg before without scoring to bring Alex Gidman to the crease.

Tavare survived a run out scare when on 90 after chancing a second run against Griffiths' throw. The extra run took him to 1,000 first-class runs for the season.

Five overs later Tavare turned one from Griffiths for a single to midwicket to reach his 150-ball ton with 13 boundaries. It was his fourth Championship hundred of the summer and the last action before the players left the field for bad light.

At the start of the day, Kent - resuming 96 runs behind on their overnight score of 83 for four - lost two wickets in the opening hour as Gloucestershire's seamers made the most of overcast conditions.

David Payne removed Darren Stevens for 23 to a sharp low catch at mid-on after the ball appeared to hold up on the wicket causing the batsman to check his attempted straight drive.

In the next over Calum Haggett held his bat out to dry against Liam Norwell to give keeper Roderick a regulation catch and make it 99 for 6. Sam Billings, with a 101-ball half-century, ensured there were no further scares for Kent before bad light and drizzle forced the players off for an early lunch with the hosts on 116 - a deficit of 63.

James Tredwell fell soon after the resumption, lbw to Craig Miles after a late decision to shoulder arms, and Mitch Claydon followed soon after, losing his off stump to the same bowler.

Miles, the pick of the visiting attack, collected a third wicket by snaring top-scorer Billings with a slower off-cutter that moved up the St Lawrence slope to defeat the right-hander's defensive push.