A SECOND century of the season for Gloucestershire opener Chris Dent frustrated Lancashire during yesterday’s opening day of their LV= County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.

Left-handed Dent’s 116 off 247 balls underpinned his side’s close score of 322-7 from 95.4 overs after winning the toss.

Lancashire’s bowlers erred in length on a pitch with few demons, generally bowling too short or too full, but they improved markedly in the last hour.

New ball pair Kyle Jarvis and Peter Siddle proved dangerous at either end of the day, with Australian Siddle conceding only 10 runs in his first sevens overs.

They then struck twice apiece with the second new ball, including one for Siddle in the day’s final over.

Debutant Nathan Buck, selected ahead of Tom Bailey, saw 10 runs come off his first over after replacing Siddle, and he conceded 39 runs in a nervy first five overs.

The Red Rose took a wicket in each of the first two sessions, with Jordan Clark getting Will Tavare caught behind for 53 and Simon Kerrigan trapping Gareth Roderick lbw.

They then struck five times after tea, started by Kerrigan getting Peter Handscomb superbly caught at long-on by Ashwell Prince.

Prince’s catch was a memorable diving effort – running from mid-off to long-on – to leave the visitors at 217-3 in the 67th, the third over after tea.

Dent added to his opening round century against Northamptonshire by reaching three figures off 199 balls with nine fours shortly after Handscomb’s dismissal.

When Lancashire’s bowlers pitched too short, he cut the ball well and likewise on the drive when they bowled too full.

Each of Gloucestershire’s first four wickets added partnerships above 50, with the opening stand of 81 inside 24 overs between Dent and Tavare their third above 50 in succession.

Dent and Roderick added 78 either side of lunch for the second wicket and Dent and Handscomb 58 for the third either side of tea.

And with Dent and Hamish Marshall together, the visitors really accelerated.

Marshall (58) brought up his 50 off 56 balls with 10 fours, with the pair sharing 81 inside 20 overs for the fourth wicket.

Siddle and Jarvis gave Lancashire a late boost with the second new ball by getting Dent and Marshall caught behind in successive overs, leaving the score at 298-5 in the 87th.

Jarvis then bowled captain Geraint Jones with 313 on the board in the 93rd before Siddle trapped Tom Smith lbw.