County Championship: Klinger ton earns narrow Gloucestershire lead

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Michael Klinger, of Gloucestershire, Western Australia and the Perth ScorchersImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Michael Klinger played in the final of both the Sheffield Shield and the Big Bash last winter down under

LV= County Championship Division Two, Bristol (day two)

Lancashire 275 and 14-0

Gloucestershire 277: Klinger 102, Jones 88; Bailey 4-52, Jarvis 4-67

Lancashire lead by 12 runs with all 10 second-innings wickets standing

Gloucestershire 5 pts, Lancashire 5 pts

Michael Klinger shared a 167-run sixth-wicket stand with Geraint Jones to help Gloucestershire to a narrow first-innings lead on day two at Bristol.

Resuming against Lancashire on 15-2, Gloucestershire then crumbled to 72-5.

But they were rescued by Australian centurion Klinger (102) and ex-England wicketkeeper Jones (88).

Tom Bailey (4-53) and fellow paceman Kyle Jarvis (4-67) shared the bulk of the wickets as the hosts ended on 277, Lancashire closing on 14-0, 12 ahead.

Klinger matching himself run for run

Michael Klinger has played just four innings since returning to Gloucestershire - two in the Championship and two in the T20 Blast - and he has totalled 195 runs in both competitions.

His 102 against Lancashire came on top of scoring 93 in his first Championship innings of the summer at Derby last week. He also hit a superb unbeaten 126 against Essex in the T20 Blast, followed by 69 not out in his second South Division game against Kent.

It looked like a Lancastrian lead was on the cards when nightwatchman Craig Miles, keeper Gareth Roderick and Ian Cockbain all departed before lunch - Jarvis, Bailey and 41-year-old player-coach Glen Chapple, in his first game since September, taking a wicket apiece.

But the in-form Klinger and Jones remained unparted throughout the afternoon session.

Klinger eventually fell to a spectacular one-handed catch by South African Alviro Petersen, at mid-on, off the bowling of Steven Croft after passing three figures for the first time in the Championship since last June.

Australia-bred Jones, now 38, 10 years on from starring in England's 2005 Ashes-winning team, departed shortly after, at 246-7, bowled by the impressive Bailey, having batted just short of three hours.

Gloucestershire captain Geraint Jones:

"Being brutally honest, we had the chance to be in a powerful position, but losing Michael when we did and then facing the new ball, meant that didn't happen.

"But that's the way cricket is and it was a fantastic fightback from where we were in the morning.

"Michael has been in unbelievable form since he arrived and it was just up to me to stick with him. Thankfully, I got away to a bit of a flyer early on and that kind of got me into the rhythm."

Lancashire coach Ashley Giles:

"We got the better of two sessions. We were right on top and we were thinking can we bowl them out before the follow-on, but Geraint Jones and Michael Klinger batted really well.

"We were probably lucky to be only two runs behind on first innings. But we did fight back well in the last session, to take five wickets and to finish unscathed gives us a good base.

"The wicket, when it got older, became easier and didn't seem to have too many gremlins. It's important we get a good start in the morning whilst the ball is still new."

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