CHRIS DENT shared a ninth wicket stand of 101 with Jon Lewis to help Gloucestershire stave off defeat in their County Championship match with Essex at Bristol yesterday.

The hosts were in trouble when the experienced Lewis joined 21-year-old Dent with the score on 209-8, a lead of just 143 with 45 overs of the game remaining, but both men reached half-centuries before the teams shook hands and took the draw.

Thornbury youth product Dent, making his comeback from a broken finger, top-scored with 70 not out, while Lewis finished unbeaten a run-a-ball 50. Earlier brothers Alex (42) and Will (32) shared 70 for the fifth wicket.

Lewis also played a major role with the ball, taking 4-65 in Essex’s first innings total of 321.

Another youngster to show up well for Gloucestershire was Ed Young, who hit his maiden County Championship half-century with 51 as they were bowled out for 255 first time around.

Gloucestershire now lie plum in the middle of the Division Two table - fifth - as they head into a two-week break from the competition, with their Friends Provident campaign getting underway against Surrey at The Oval this evening (6.30pm).