Gloucestershire collapse after Porterfield ton

Northamptonshire 4 for 2 v Gloucestershire 302
Scorecard

Gloucestershire's William Porterfield scored his second century of the season on a first day of swinging fortunes in their County Championship clash with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Ireland international Porterfield struck a superb 150 off 245 balls and was ably supported by 19-year-old Chris Dent, who made 92 off 180 balls as part of a 219-run partnership for the second wicket. But the visitors collapsed alarmingly after Dent's dismissal, losing nine wickets for 60 runs to total 302, with Lee Daggett leading the Northamptonshire fightback as he took 4 for 57 before the home side closed on 4 for 2 in reply.

Northamptonshire won the toss but chose to make their opponents bat first and in the sixth over Jack Brooks took the wicket of Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty by trapping him lbw. His fellow opener, Porterfield, then raced to 50 off as many balls by the end of the 16th over and Dent reached his half-century off 103 balls in the seventh over after lunch.

Porterfield went on to reach his century off 154 balls as the hosts' attack continued to toil in the sun. The stand was finally broken with the last ball before tea when Dent missed his attempted sweep and was bowled by James Middlebrook.

Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman made just a single before his off stump was taken out by Zimbabwe international Elton Chigumbura in the third over of the evening. Porterfield's excellent innings was finally ended when he edged Brooks to David Sales at second slip in the first over after the new ball was taken.

In the very next over, Daggett sent James Franklin's off stump tumbling and Steve Snell soon followed for a six-ball duck when he edged Daggett to Sales at second slip. Ed Young then threw his wicket away in his first Championship innings when he pulled Brooks straight to Ben Howgego at square leg.

Jon Lewis edged Daggett to wicketkeeper David Murphy before Gemaal Hussain went in the same fashion off Northants captain Andrew Hall and Steve Kirby was the last wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Daggett.

The hosts faced 14 balls but lost opener Stephen Peters when he was caught at second slip by Dent off Hussain before Middlebrook was snared at third slip by Porterfield off Lewis, both only making singles.