A sixth-wicket partnership of 167 between Gloucestershire centurion Michael Klinger and Geraint Jones frustrated Lancashire during yesterday’s second day of their LV= County Championship match at Bristol, but they remain well placed.

The hosts, replying to 275, began day two on 15-2 and slipped to 72-5 in the latter stages of the morning thanks to wickets for Kyle Jarvis, Tom Bailey and Glen Chapple.

But Australian overseas opener Klinger and Gloucester captain Jones united for almost 43 overs, with 139 coming in 33 between lunch and tea, to help post 277 all out inside 92 overs.

Klinger made 102 off 209 balls and Jones 88 off 125, but they were two of their last five wickets to fall for only 38 as Jarvis and Bailey finished with four wickets apiece.

Lancashire closed on 14-0 from 12 second-innings overs, a lead of 12 with Paul Horton and Karl Brown unbeaten.

Lancashire had started the day positively as Jarvis bowled night-watchman Craig Miles and Bailey had Gareth Roderick caught at first slip, leaving the score at 27-4 in the 17th over.

Chapple later bowled former Lancashire junior Ian Cockbain, who left alone an in-swinger and lost his off-stump in the 36th.

That, however, was Lancashire’s last success until the early evening as Klinger and Jones took the attack to the Division Two leaders.

Klinger hit four fours in the first two overs after lunch off Jarvis and Jordan Clark – the 41st and 42nd – before Jones took three successive fours off James Faulkner in the 61st shortly after the lead had been reduced to below 100.

Klinger reached his century off 205 balls in the early stages of the evening, including 15 fours and a straight six off Steven Croft’s off-spin, but he fell within an over to Croft.

In trying to go over the top, Klinger miscued to mid-on, where Alviro Petersen took a superb one-handed catch above his head as Gloucester fell to 239-6 in the 78th over.

Bailey then picked up his third and fourth wickets by bowling Jones in the 81st, the first over with the second new ball, and getting Jack Taylor caught at square-leg off a top-edged pull, leaving the score at 257-8 in the 85th.

It was soon 266-9 when Jarvis had Benny Howell caught at deep backward square-leg hooking three overs later before Matt Taylor was caught at gully off the same bowler.