Lucas in limelight as wickets tumble

Kadeer Ali was forced to retire hurt after taking a blow on the helmet off Northamptonshire fast bowler Johan van der Wath

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David Lucas claimed a season’s best 5-49 as Northamptonshire bowled out Gloucestershire for 147 on the opening day of the LV= County Championship match at Cheltenham.

But on a day dominated by the bowlers, the home side hit back to reduce their opponents to eight for three in reply before they closed on 175 for six.

Pitch inspector John Jameson deemed that swing, rather than any problems with the pitch, was mainly responsible for 16 wickets falling.

Gloucestershire’s Chris Taylor, with 51, and Northants skipper Nicky Boje (57 not out) were among few batsmen to make any impression.

Boje invited Gloucestershire to bat after winning the toss for the first time in eight attempts in cool, overcast conditions and soon saw the decision pay off.

The pitch had pace in it and opener Kadeer Ali was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the helmet by a rising delivery from Johan van der Wath.

Soon the hosts were 17 for three as Lucas bowled Will Porterfield shouldering arms and gained lbw decisions against Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall, both playing across the line.

Taylor and James Franklin (24) took the total to 66 before Franklin carelessly clipped Andrew Hall to Lucas at mid-wicket. Then Steve Snell fell to the same bowler for a second-ball duck.

It was 103 for five at lunch, with Taylor unbeaten on 34. He went on to a half-century off 74 balls, with nine fours, but then loosely drove at a wide ball from Lucas and edged to wicketkeeper Riki Wessels.

Gloucestershire batsman Chris Taylor (right) was one of only two players to reach fifty on a day for seamers at Cheltenham

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Richard Dawson made 21 and Jon Lewis 13 not out, but the damage had been done.

Kadeer returned only to fall for a duck and Gloucestershire failed to claim a batting point for the third successive game. Lucas was well supported by South Africans van der Wath (3-47) and Hall (2-20).

Soon Gloucestershire’s bowlers were making the new ball talk as well.

Ben Howgego was lbw to Steve Kirby in the first over without scoring and Franklin quickly accounted for Stephen Peters and Rob White.

When Wessels was lbw to Lewis aiming to leg it was 39 for four and that became 91 for five after tea as Alex Wakely fell in similar fashion for a battling 30.

Boje needed several moments of good fortune to reach fifty off 89 balls with eight fours. He was caught in the slips off a no-ball from Franklin on 42 and had a tough time against Kirby straight after tea.

But the Northants skipper also produced some well-timed strokes to ensure his side gained a first-innings lead.

Kirby got his reward for some hostile spells when Hall, on 41, holed out to Lewis at deep square.