Marshall and Cockbain steady Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire 265 for 8 (Marshall 75, Cockbain 51, Housego 51) v Hampshire
Scorecard

Hamish Marshall and Ian Cockbain produced a fifth-wicket stand of 125 to aid Gloucestershire's recovery on the opening day of the Division Two match with Hampshire at Bristol.

Despite a half-century from Dan Housego, the hosts were in trouble at 85 for 4 after losing the toss until Marshall and Cockbain - who hit 75 and 51 respectively - dug in with a determined partnership, spanning 34 overs, that took their side to a first batting point.

Hampshire, who were hampered by a shoulder injury to Dimitri Mascarenhas after he had taken 1 for 24 from 12 overs, then hit back and by the close Gloucestershire had reached 265 for eight. There were two wickets each for David Balcombe and Kabir Ali, while James Tomlinson gave little away in returning 1 for 33 from 19 overs.

Benny Howell's hopes of a big score against his old club were dashed early on as he fell leg before to Kabir, pushing half forward. Marshall, who struck 75, helped Gloucestershire recover from 85 for four by adding 125 with Cockbain versus Hampshire

It was 36 for 2 when New Zealander Rob Nicol, who received his Gloucestershire county cap before the start of play, was caught behind fencing at a delivery outside off stump from Balcombe. Then home skipper Alex Gidman fell in unfortunate fashion, run out backing up as Balcombe deflected a straight drive from Housego onto the stumps at the bowler's end. At lunch it was 73 for 3.

Housego reached a solid half-century off 92 balls, with four fours, but perished soon afterwards for 51, losing his off stump to a ball from Mascarenhas in the 37th over. At that point Gloucestershire were really struggling, but Marshall moved to a 108-ball fifty - with just three fours - and by tea he and Cockbain had taken the total to 161 for 4.

They added a further 49 in the final session before Marshall, who had been dropped at short-leg on 50 off Liam Dawson, fell to the same bowler - trapped in front when missing a sweep. His score took Marshall's first-class run-tally for the season to 737 - 336 more than he managed last summer - at an average of 46. He remains more than 200 ahead of any other Gloucestershire player.

Cockbain is second in their list, but again failed to press on after reaching a 108-ball fifty, with six fours. He tried to work a straight ball from Balcombe through the leg side and became another lbw victim.

At 226 for 6 from 81 overs, Hampshire took the second new ball and - with 10 added - Paul Muchall was bowled shouldering arms by Tomlinson. Richard Coughtrie and Ian Saxelby then saw Gloucestershire to a second bonus point before Saxelby fell to Kabir as the day ended with honours even.