Hamish Marshall held up Hampshire's victory bid on day three of the LV= County Championship Division Two clash at Bristol by spearheading a battling Gloucestershire recovery.
Marshall ended the day unbeaten on 84 as Gloucestershire recovered from 183 for seven to reach 308 for nine in their second innings, with the New Zealander and seamer David Payne forging a record ninth-wicket partnership for the county against Hampshire of 92 at almost five runs an over.
Payne, who hit two fours and a six off successive deliveries during one Michael Carberry over, was dismissed for 44 as Gloucestershire closed with a 190-run lead.
Alex Gidman's 72 allowed Gloucestershire to stage an initial comeback from 48 for three, yet they continued losing wickets at regular intervals before Marshall and Payne breathed life into a game that appeared lost.
Gloucestershire 268-8 in 82nd over, leading by 150. Marshall 57 not out, Payne 33 not out. Marshall fifty off 162 balls, with 6 fours.
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) April 15, 2014
Hampshire added just five runs to their overnight score, with wicketkeeper Adam Wheater the last man out for 82 as Matt Taylor returned career-best figures of 5-75, yet a first-innings total of 422 meant Gloucestershire needed a solid start as they set about erasing a 118-run first innings deficit.
But James Tomlinson kept Hampshire on top, removing openers Michael Klinger and Chris Dent to leave Gloucestershire reeling on six for two, before first-innings centurion Will Tavare went for 18, trapped lbw by Matt Coles.
Gidman and Marshall repaired some of the damage as Gloucestershire moved to 79 for three by lunch, before a 76-run fourth-wicket partnership was broken by Sean Ervine, who had Gidman caught behind, ending an innings that included 11 fours.
Ervine then struck again, bowling Gidman's younger brother Will, and not even the loss of Wheater to a hand injury for the evening session - Will Smith deputised behind the stumps - could disrupt Hampshire's flow until Marshall and Payne took charge.
Six Hampshire bowlers shared the nine wickets to fall, with Ervine, Tomlinson and Coles taking two each.