James Bracey stands out but Mohammad Abbas takes the honours

Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets as Leicestershire bowled out Gloucestershire for 202 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Bristol.

Abbas took his wicket tally to 35 in only his seventh Championship game with 5 for 30 from 20.3 overs on a slow pitch. Ben Raine chipped in with 3 for 44 against a brittle home batting line-up.

The only half-century came from 21-year-old James Bracey, who enhanced his growing reputation with a battling 76, occupying just over four hours. Gareth Roderick contributed 41 to a fourth-wicket stand of 100.

Gloucestershire lost three wickets with their total on 50 following a decent start and their last six for the addition of only 11 runs. By the close Leicestershire had replied with 11 for 1, Harry Dearden caught at second slip off David Payne for 4.

After an uncontested toss, the hosts began in promising style, with openers Chris Dent and Miles Hammond putting together a half-century stand in watchful fashion.

But when Dent, on 28, edged a ball from Gavin Griffiths onto his stumps, trying to withdraw his bat, it signalled a dramatic change in fortunes.

Hammond, after taking 64 balls to make 7, followed in the next over, caught behind off Abbas, who then had Benny Howell taken at second slip for a duck, the ball after striking him a painful blow with a short delivery.

Three wickets had fallen in the space of 16 balls and at lunch Gloucestershire were 56 for 3, with Abbas, moving the ball in the air and off the pitch, having figures of 2 for 10 from nine overs.

The afternoon session belonged to Gloucestershire with Bracey, a young left-hander with the patience to bat for long periods, and Roderick launching a recovery with few alarms.

By tea they had taken the total to 145 for 3, putting the pitch in perspective and laying the foundation for a sizeable score.

It never materialised. With five runs added after the break, Roderick fell lbw, pushing forward to Abbas and it might have been worse for the home side when Jack Taylor was dropped on 1 by Colin Ackerman at second slip off the same bowler.

Taylor hit a defiant straight six off Callum Parkinson's left-arm spin and at 191 for 4 Gloucestershire looked reasonably placed. But part-time offspinner Ackerman then made a key breakthrough, pinning Taylor lbw for 21 with a delivery that turned, in the over before the new ball was due.

When it was taken, Raine quickly sent back Ryan Higgins and 17-year-old Ben Charlesworth, both leg-before, and Abbas ended Bracey's fine effort, gaining another lbw verdict after the young batsman had faced 190 balls and hit 11 fours.

There was no resistance from the tail as Payne and Matt Taylor fell for ducks to Raine and Abbas respectively and Leicestershire found themselves facing the prospect of six overs of batting at the end of the day.

After Dearden's departure nightwatchman Griffiths and Paul Horton saw things out.