Price and Hammond Put Gloucestershire 131 Ahead at Cheltenham

Gloucestershire closed day three of their County Championship Division Two match against Worcestershire on 248-3 in their second innings, turning a 117-run deficit into a lead of 131 at Cheltenham College. The ECB Reporters' Network, in a report carried by BBC Sport, said Ollie Price was unbeaten on 63 after sharing a 113-run third-wicket stand with Miles Hammond.

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The hosts had been dismissed for 150 in their first innings before Worcestershire reached 267. Worcestershire captain Brett D'Oliveira top-scored with 83 from 183 balls, an innings that included eight fours and a six. He added 71 for the eighth wicket with Beyers Swanepoel, who made 42 from 62 balls after being dropped on 28.

Worcestershire resumed the day on 205-7 and added 62 runs during the morning session. Will Williams ended Swanepoel's innings by bowling him with the new ball and then trapped Ben Allison in front. Sai Kishore dismissed D'Oliveira and finished with 4-76, while Williams returned figures of 3-52.

Cameron Bancroft and Joe Phillips began Gloucestershire's reply with a 50-run opening partnership in 13.1 overs. Swanepoel then removed Phillips for 34 and Bancroft for 37 in consecutive overs. That left Gloucestershire still 40 runs behind, with two new batters at the crease and Worcestershire applying pressure.

Hammond and Price rebuilt the innings through a measured partnership. Hammond reached his half-century from 102 deliveries and Price needed 110 balls to reach the same landmark. Their stand passed 100 from 206 balls before Tom Taylor trapped Hammond leg before wicket for 57 with the score on 190-3.

James Bracey then made an unbeaten 45 from 60 balls alongside Price as Gloucestershire moved to 248-3 by stumps. They have seven second-innings wickets remaining, while Worcestershire will have to bat last. The ECB report said the surface was expected to offer increasing assistance to spin on the final day, but the outcome remained open after Gloucestershire's recovery changed the position of the match.