Kent find themselves in trouble at the end of the second day of their County Championship match against Gloucestershire a top order batting collapse.

The hosts will resume in the morning on 119-6, still 136 runs behind, and their position could have been even worse were it not for a defiant half century from Darren Stevens.

Gloucestershire began the day solidly, despite the rain affecting proceedings in the first innings – the players were brought off 25 minutes in with the score at 139-6, and returned to the pitch at just gone midday. Just three balls later, however, they were back in the pavilion as another shower stopped play.

After coming back on less than 25 minutes later, Gidman and Young steered the visitors through to lunch, with former Durham all-rounder Gidman picking up a well-earned half century in tricky conditions on the way.

Gloucestershire resumed after lunch on 174-6, but just five balls after the break, the partnership was broken. A breakdown in communications between the batsmen as Gidman attempted a quick single saw him run out having been sent back by his partner, Brendan Nash throwing to Geraint Jones before the batsman could reach his mark.

That brought Paul Muchall to the crease in just his second first class game, and he helped his side through to reach the new ball at 203-7.

Mark Davies was brought into the attack with the new cherry, and a few overs later he made the breakthrough. Muchall’s off peg was sent cartwheeling from the ground as he went for a career-best 23, before Ian Saxelby was caught on the crease lbw next ball as the former Durham seamer completed a double-wicket maiden, leaving the score at 224-9.

David Payne was the last man in for the away side, and he was able to stick around long enough for Ed Young to complete his fifty from 105 balls, including one big pull for six over square leg off the bowling of Matt Coles.

Coles would pick up the final wicket of the innings, however, trapping Payne lbw for 10 to leave Gloucestershire 255 all out, having secured a bonus batting point. Coles and Davies both finished the innings with four wickets, both having found some life in the pitch with the new ball.

Kent would have wanted to dismiss the visitors more cheaply than they did, considering that yesterday afternoon they had them at 73-5, but the middle and lower order Gloucestershire fightback could help decide the game.

Kent openers Scott Newman and Rob Key made their way out to the middle for Kent’s first innings with a tricky 25-minute period to negotiate before tea.

Unfortunately, they were unable to get through unscathed – Rob Key out for 5, caught on the crease and edging behind to the visitors keeper Richard Coughtrie off the bowling of Will Gidman, Kent reaching 16-1 at the break.

In the final session, things fell apart somewhat for the hosts, Newman first departing for 12 with his off stump sent flying by left arm seamer David Payne, who would later have to leave the field mid-over with a side strain, before returning around 20 minutes before the end of play.

Ben Harmison was out before too long for 12, edging Will Gidman behind to Coughtrie, and Mike Powell followed in identical fashion for a duck just two balls later, the wicket keeper taking this catch diving in front of the slips, leaving Kent in the perilous position of 30-4, and Gidman with figures of 3-13.

Gidman impressed all day and can be pleased with his work in the match so far – his three wickets added to his earlier-made half century.

As Darren Stevens came in, little was done to ease the nerves of the Kent fans as he looked in a far from comfortable position at the crease; however he and Nash made a revival of sorts, before the former West Indian test batsman was out too.

Ian Saxelby took this wicket, once again caught behind by Coughtrie – his fourth catch of the innings so far – with the home side in real trouble at 55-5.

As Geraint Jones joined Stevens at the crease, Kent were in bad need of some sort of partnership, and the pair were able to provide it – Stevens the main benefactor as he reached his 50 from 82 balls.

As the 50 partnership was brought up – only 7 coming from Jones – they looked to have pulled the home side back in the game, particularly when Paul Muchall was unable to hold onto a tough caught and bowled chance off Stevens on 53.

Gloucestershire would not rue their missed opportunity for too long though, as two overs before the close, Stevens was bowled by a ball from spinner Ed Young which turned and bounced, leaving the Kent all-rounder on his way back to the pavilion for a very good 54, featuring eight 4s.

James Tredwell came in and saw out the remaining overs alongside Geraint Jones, but the home side will certainly have some batting to do tomorrow to pull themselves from their perilous overnight position of 119-6, still 136 runs behind Gloucestershire.

Speaking to KSN at the close of play, Kent bowler Mark Davies said that he was confident that Kent could still get back into the game.

He said: “We bat quite deep – the game’s gone the same way as the first innings for them, they were under a lot of trouble and got a couple of partnerships going. Coles scored a good hundred at Headingley and he’s coming in next and hopefully we can battle all the way through. We’ve got to scrap – there’s no doubt about it, but we’ll do it in the morning hopefully and see what happens.”

Davies also said that there was a good togetherness in the squad, something which would help them as they look to get something from the game.

“The trip to Antigua was massive for us – bringing a lot of new players in it can be a bit disjointed at times but we’ve got a lot of characters in the dressing room and it’s worked really well. It’s freshened the place up a bit – there’s a lot of players who have come in and want to kickstart their careers, so I think it’s a good place to be.”

Kent side: Newman, Key, Harmison, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Shreck.

Gloucestershire side: Coughtrie, Dent, Howell, A Gidman, Marshall, Cockbain, W Gidman, Young, Muchall, Saxelby, Payne.

Close of play on Day 2: Kent 119-6 (Stevens 54, W Gidman 3-23, Payne 1-9) in reply to Gloucestershire 255 all out (W Gidman 56, Young 55*, Davies 4-43, Coles 4-70)

Pictures by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures, visit www.sarahcanterbury.com