Encouraging lead for Glos after positive Day 2 performance

Day 2: Gloucestershire (292) and (40 for 1) lead Kent (208) by 124 runs

Is it over the top to say that we should win this match from here? A great day's cricket from Glos put the boys in a very strong position and in complete control of this match. A consistent bowling performance gave the 'Shire a first innings lead of 84, which was extended to 124 for the loss of Ian Cockbain by the close of play. It was good to see youngster David Payne rein in the four balls enough to take 3-55 at an economy rate of 3.43. Glos benefited from Joe Denly's fractured thumb, but compensated by allowing debutant Adam Ball, an aptly-named former Arsenal trainee, to score 46. As a graduate from the Arsene Wenger school, it was not recorded whether he greeted his dismissal with a violent kick to a nearby water bottle before remarking that he did not see the incident in question.

We were again provided with rich entertainment by the Times' rolling county cricket updates (paywall), which featured a gem from Mark Baldwin. He compared the picturesque scenes at Lords to those 'at Canterbury, where Ivo Tennant is clearly close to writing a very strong letter to The Times about the state of Kent's re-development of the historic St Lawrence Ground'. Great stuff and indicative of the dark mood in the Canterbury press box, where the malfunctioning scoreboards caused further annoyance to the assembled hacks.

Our friends over at Glos la la la think 250 in our second innings will be enough to win the match. We are far more pessimistic and would like to make them chase at least 400. Either way, the 'Shire are in the driving seat in this match. A thumping victory would be most enjoyable.