Honours even at Cheltenham

Gloucestershire batsman Matt Windows and Hampshire spinner Shaun Udal took the honours on an intriguing first day of the CricInfo Championship second division match at Cheltenham.

The visitors had to do without skipper Robin Smith and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, both late withdrawals through injury, and it looked as if they would have an unproductive day in the field until Udal instigated a collapse which saw six wickets fall for 62 runs.

Neil Johnson was the only Hampshire bowler to enjoy success in the morning session, after Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne had won the toss. Johnson had Dominic Hewson caught behind by Adrian Aymes, as he tried to withdraw the bat, and Kim Barnett was dismissed in the same manner as he drove at a wide delivery.

But Windows and Chris Taylor regained control for Gloucestershire with a third-wicket stand of 137. Both players cut and drove the majority of their boundaries through the off-side and it was good entertainment for the 3,000 festival crowd.

Taylor had moved smoothly to 56 before he was well caught by acting captain Will Kendall at mid off, and then Windows departed when he holed out to Alex Morris in the deep.

His 91 came from 181 balls, contained 16 fours and a six, and signalled a welcome return to form for the England A batsman, who went into the game with a meagre average of 19.

Alleyne, Jeremy Snape and Ian Harvey all got out after making a start and when Jack Russell also departed, it looked as if Gloucestershire would fall below 300.

However, they were indebted to a ninth-wicket stand of 62 between Martyn Ball and Alastair Bressington, who is making hs first appearance of the season after finishing his studies at university in Cardiff.

Ball struck four boundaries in his 40 before he was caught by Johnson at second slip off Chris Tremlett, who promptly wrapped up the innings by dismissing Ben Gannon for a duck.