Gloucestershire's promotion hopes are looking slim – even though they are well on course to beat Division Two champions Kent.

Alex Gidman's side have played almost faultlessly in their Championship game at Bristol. At the close of day two they led by 175 runs having made 439-5 in reply to Kent's first innings of 264.

But, going into the match in sixth place, they always knew they were at the mercy of results elsewhere as they targeted a rise to second spot.

Third-placed Northamptonshire are now favourites to claim the other promotion place, behind already-promoted Kent.

They are dominating Leicestershire at Wantage Road, while second-placed Essex are looking likely to draw with fellow promotion contenders Derbyshire.

If Gloucestershire CCC do not go up, it will be down to a lack of first-innings runs from their batsmen over the course of the season. Yesterday that was not a problem as Hamish Marshall (87), Chris Taylor (69) and James Franklin (104 not out) all batted beautifully to take Gloucestershire to maximum batting bonus points.

Marshall could hardly have played better against Kent as he rocketed to 54 not out with a six and 11 fours from just 38 balls, taking full advantage of the shortened boundaries at Nevil Road.

Benefitting from standing perfectly still at impact, Marshall cruised on until, 13 short of 100, he stretched for a ball from Darren Stevens and edged behind.

Taylor's cover driving was immaculate as he stroked 12 boundaries of his own. A second century of the season looked in the offing for the former captain until he tried to pull a ball from Matthew Coles just after tea and top-edged for 69.

Franklin reached his ninth career hundred with a sublime clip off his legs off Coles for his 14th four and Gloucestershire's 400, from his 151st ball.

By the close, wicketkeeper Steve Adshead (85 not out) had helped Franklin add 144 unbroken for the sixth wicket and Kent were looking anything but champions.

Earlier, Kadeer Ali (25) and Will Porterfield (42) had helped set the platform for Gloucestershire CCC's score before there was a rare failure from Gidman, who nicked to second slip for 15.