Franklin produces timely knock to spare Gloucestershire's blushes

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Friday, September 18, 2009
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This is Bristol

James Franklin frustrated his old Glamorgan team-mates with a half- century that went a long way to helping Gloucestershire save the follow-on at Cardiff.

On the second day of this crunch Division Two clash, the New Zealand all- rounder provided 66 as Gloucestershire made 251-7 – 159 behind and still needing 10 more runs to avoid the follow-on – in response to Glamorgan's 410 all out.

When Franklin, on Glamorgan's books in 2006, came to the wicket his side were in real trouble at 95-4, but he shared in important lower order partnerships with Steve Adshead and Richard Dawson. That was before Franklin was out three overs from the close.

At the start of the day, Glamorgan achieved their aim of getting to 400 and maximum batting points – but only just. Resuming on 380-7, the home side lost two quick wickets to be reduced to 390-9.

First James Harris fell in the fourth over of the morning, edging off spinner Dawson to slip and three balls later Dean Cosker went leg before.

But last wicket pair Robert Croft and Garnett Kruger navigated their side to the fifth point before Kruger became Dawson's fourth victim, holing out to mid-wicket.

Gloucestershire CCC were soon in trouble in reply and were reduced to 13-2.

William Porterfield scythed Kruger straight to point and he was followed back to the pavilion by Hamish Marshall, who went leg before to Harris.

Either side of lunch, which Gloucestershire CCC reached at 38-2 and a long way from the follow-on figure of 261, Alex Gidman and Kadeer Ali looked to have conceived a recovery.

But eight short of his half-century Kadeer was bowled by Jim Allenby to leave Gloucestershire CCC 94-3.

That became 95-4 seven balls later when Harris bowled Chris Taylor off his pads.

A productive two sessions for Glamorgan were complete when Gidman, who looked certain to get his half-century, chased a wide Allenby delivery and was caught behind as Gloucestershire slipped further to 111-5.

Franklin and Adshead put on a useful 90 for the fifth wicket and had just registered their side's first batting point when they were parted.

Glamorgan brought Mark Cosgrove into the attack and he accounted for Adshead leg before.

Franklin went to his 50 from 112 balls as he and Dawson realised more useful runs before the former was trapped leg before by home captain Jamie Dalrymple.

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