Matt Windows emerged from a worrying sequence of three successive ducks to bat Gloucestershire into a strong position at Bristol.

The 28-year-old England A batsman ended the third day of the CricInfo Championship match unbeaten on 88, with his side well placed on 208-4, a lead of 235.

It has been a roller-coaster start to the season for Windows, who hit a Benson & Hedges Cup century against Northants, but has already failed to score in five innings.

There was no evidence of poor form as he emerged from an understandably edgy start to dominate the bowling on a testing two-paced pitch, compiling his runs off 200 balls, with 12 boundaries.

Rob Cunliffe also batted well to contribute 48 before frustratingly sacrificing his wicket to off-spinner Paul Weekes with a poorly played cut that presented Stephen Fleming with a slip catch.

And after Kim Barnett and Ian Harvey had fallen cheaply, skipper Mark Alleyne helped Windows add 49 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand to tilt the game firmly Gloucestershire's way.

Earlier, David Nash had frustrated the home side's hopes of a major first innings lead with an unbeaten half-century after Middlesex began the day on 186-7.

Nash's valuable innings occupied 154 balls and featured seven boundaries. With Angus Fraser contributing a valuable 25, Middlesex added 59 to their overnight score before being bowled out for 245.

Gloucestershire's bowling lacked the discipline of the previous day and both Jon Lewis and Harvey were below par in completing figures of 3-50 and 4-96 respectively.

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