Alex Gidman’s second half-century of the match kept Surrey from recording their fourth win of the season in the County Championship, a victory that will take the top of the Division One table assuming it is achieved today. Had Gidman not been dropped on 64, when a stinging return chance was floored by Jimmy Ormond, the visitors’ coach Steve Rixon could have been excused for predicting a Surrey win, and adding: “Once we get to the top I don’t think anyone will catch us.”

When the home side were eventually bowled out for 288, just before the second new ball was due, Surrey had no hesitation enforcing the follow-on. Gidman nearly became only the second batsman to make a championship hundred this season for the hosts. The 23-year-old all-rounder moved to 93 in 191 deliveries, including 16 fours before steering Harbhajan Singh into the hands of Rikki Clarke at leg slip.

Gidman’s dogged seventh-wicket partnership with Ian Fisher, which realised 90, was ended by a straight full toss from Azhar Mahmood. James Averis was out driving loosely to short extra cover, but the unexpected appearance of Chris Taylor, who dislocated his shoulder whilst fielding on Saturday morning, saw the Gloucestershire skipper take Martin Bicknell for three fours in an over before edging Harbhajan behind.

Second time around Craig Spearman brought up the fifty stand for the first wicket in the fifteenth over by despatching Bicknell for two off-side fours. The former New Zealand Test player celebrated it with another boundary straight down the ground off the last ball of the same over.

The breakthrough came when Spearman was caught at short extra cover off Nayan Doshi for 47. Matt Windows scratched around for six before being trapped in front by Jimmy Ormond. However, Philip Weston, who was dropped at first slip by Thorpe, off Ormond, on 36, was posting an 82-ball half-century.

Ormond thought that he had Weston caught behind in the thirtieth over, but umpire Mike Harris disagreed. A few deliveries later he had and Gloucestershire were looking down the barrel at 109 for three, still more than 200 adrift of making the visitors bat again.

But Alex Gidman, firstly in partnership with the stylish James Pearson, then wicketkeeper Steve Adshed, controlled the remainder of proceedings. At stumps he had an unbeaten 72 off 150 balls to his name.

Pearson, who played well either side of tea and at one point drove Harbhajan Singh for consecutive off-side fours, was out edging to slip. He was replaced by Adshed, who, whilst never looking completely secure, survived until the close and celebrated reaching fifty with a straight six off Nayan Doshi. As an overpowering sun began its descent, Gidman and Adshed’s alliance for the fifth wicket reached three figures.

Steve Rixon, who voiced his dislike for the wicket that Gloucestershire have prepared for this match, also said: “We have so many alternatives – left-arm finger spinner, right-arm off-spinner, guys who can reverse it as well if the match gets to that situation and others who can swing it when we get the second crack at the new ball. That means we have most bases covered.” Today, we will see.

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