Bowlers on top at Derby

Graham Wagg snared his 50th first-class wicket this season © Getty Images

Derbyshire's bowlers hit back after Gloucestershire all-rounder David Brown took a career-best five-wicket haul to bowl the home side out cheaply on day one at the County Ground.

Brown took 5-38 as Derbyshire were dismissed for 188 in the LV County Championship Division Two clash.

But Graham Wagg claimed his 50th first-class wicket of the season in an inspired burst of 4-5 in 19 balls to leave the visitors in trouble at 98 for six when bad light ended play.

Although 16 wickets fell during the day, the Derby pitch was described as good by an ECB pitch liaison officer and Derbyshire batsman Steve Stubbings put conditions into context with an unbeaten 62 on his return to the team.

Stubbings scored only his second half-century of the season in his first game for two months and shared stands of 49 with Wagg and 41 for the last wicket with Charl Langeveldt, to take a home side missing the injured Wavell Hinds past 150.

Stubbings came in with his side struggling on 54 for four after Gloucestershire had won the toss on a cool overcast morning and their seamers got plenty of help from a green pitch.

Paul Borrington was bowled for a duck by a beauty from Steve Kirby in the second over and Anthony Ireland struck with his third ball when Dan Birch edged low to third slip.

Dan Redfern was caught at gully and Ireland claimed his third victim when Greg Smith played across the line and was lbw for nine.

Steve Stubbings ended unbeaten on 62 on a day when bowlers dominated proceedings at Derby

Chris Rogers smashed Brown for three fours but the seamer responded by making one lift to have Derbyshire's captain caught behind for 40.

But Stubbings and Wagg batted well for 13 overs until Wagg top-edged a pull at Brown to point and when Wayne White and Ian Hunter both went without scoring, Derbyshire were 147 for nine.

But Stubbings and Langeveldt played positively to share what could prove a vital stand in a low-scoring match.

Stubbings cut Kirby for his eighth four to reach his 50 and was batting with a runner after he pulled up with a hamstring problem when Langeveldt lost his middle stump going for another big shot.

Although Langeveldt removed Kadeer Ali cheaply, Gloucestershire were going well at 62 for one but Wagg then sent them crashing with a devastating spell.

Will Porterfield was lbw after batting 20 overs for 23, Hamish Marshall drove loosely to gully and Alex Gidman became Wagg's 50th victim when he was yorked for eight.

Brown failed with the bat, falling lbw to Wagg for a duck, and when Chris Taylor was needlessly run out for 13, Derbyshire had regained the initiative on a day of good bowling and poor batting.