Alex Gidman hit a career-best 176 as Gloucestershire handed out a pasting to Surrey's bowlers on the third day at Bristol.

Resuming their first innings on 224 for three in this LV County Championship Division Two match, the home side raced to 523 for seven declared - Chris Taylor making 111 and Hamish Marshall 84.

That gave Gloucestershire a lead of 340 with 10 overs still available before tea. Surrey had been embarrassing in the field but restored some pride by scoring 136 for three before the close - 22-year-old championship debutant Arun Harinath unbeaten on 44, as they trailed by 204.

The morning session brought 31 boundaries as Gidman and Taylor punished some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding. Marshall, unbeaten on 72 overnight, was dropped in the slips on 79 before being run out by Rangana Herath's direct hit attempting a second run to square-leg.

A more serious error saw Taylor spilled by Usman Afzaal at first slip before he had scored. Both catches were missed off Jade Dernbach, who yelled his displeasure and frustration.

Gidman, who had resumed on 62, reached his fourth championship century of the season with successive boundaries off Stuart Meaker - having faced 148 balls and struck 14 fours and a six. Taylor raced to a half-century off 42 balls, with 10 fours, as the pair slaughtered some generous bowling.

Lunch was taken at 401 for four, with Gloucestershire having added 177 runs in 30 overs. There was no let-up after the break until Gidman, who had offered a caught-and-bowled chance to Alex Tudor on 142, was finally held at backward point - trying to reverse-sweep left-arm spinner Herath.

By then the Gloucestershire captain had faced 227 balls and extended his boundary count to 25 fours and three sixes. It eclipsed his previous best score of 159, made against Leicestershire at Bristol in May.

Taylor breezed to his ton off 97 balls, with 18 fours, before being yorked by Meaker. By then the scoreboard read 492 for six, and his side were 309 runs in front.

Steve Adshead got off the mark with a straight six off Herath, who gained some revenge by having the wicketkeeper stumped for 16 - giving him the charge. James Franklin was 25 not out when Gidman called a halt.

Surrey openers Jonathan Batty and Michael Brown looked undaunted by their major task and put 33 on the board before tea. The partnership had extended to 75 when Batty, on 40, was caught behind by Adshead - standing up to the medium pace of Marshall.

Anthony Ireland then removed Brown's off bail to make it 93 for two, and when out-of-form Stewart Walters fell lbw trying to glance a straight ball from Saxelby Surrey's day of misery was complete.