BENNY Howell recorded match-best figures and skipper Michael Klinger passed 6000 first class runs as Gloucestershire set up a victory chase on the final day of their LV=County Championship match with Leicestershire.
Medium-pacer Howell (inset) claimed second-innings figures of three for 39, which when added to his first innings five for 57 yielded an impressive match analysis of eight for 96.
Will Gidman also posted a fine second-innings return, claiming four for 39 as the hosts were bowled out for 217, a lead of 187.
By the close, skipper Klinger and opening partner Chris Dent had taken the score to 16 without loss, still needing a further 172 to claim a first Division Two victory of the season.
Leicestershire had begun the day on 32-2 and lost nightwatchman Ollie Frekingham with only three runs added as Gidman trapped him on his pads in front of the stumps.
When Ned Eckersley was bowled by Howell for 45 the hosts had slipped to 69 for four, a lead of just 39 and Gloucestershire were sensing an easy victory.
But Josh Cobb and former West Indies star Ramnaresh Sarwan added a fifth-wicket stand of 76 which threatened to haul the hosts back into contention, before Howell returned to claim a significant double.
First, he had Cobb caught by the safe hands of Will Gidman for 43, and just five had been added when one-time Gloucestershire man Sarwan, who had made 44, was bowled to leave the score 150 for six.
(43) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (44) then put together a fifth-wicket stand of 76, which threatened to take the home side into a winning position before both fell to Howell in quick succession.
It was another remarkable effort from former Hampshire man Howell, who before this game had never taken more than two wickets in a first class innings.
Jack Taylor removed Shiv Thakor cheaply to put the visitors firmly on top, but another half-century partnership, between Cheltenham-born Matthew Boyce and Jigar Naik looked to be turning the tables again.
Will Gidman had Boyce caught behind for 35 on his way to match figures of seven for104 and Craig Miles cleaned up the tail, removing Jigar Naik for 21 and Robbie Williams for four, to leave Gloucestershire with 188 to chase.
Skipper Michael Klinger and Chris Dent were both unbeaten on eight at stumps, with the captain bringing up his personal milestone with a boundary off Freckingham in the fifth over.
