Kadeer leads the way

Gloucestershire enjoyed their best opening partnership of the season and then lost three wickets for seven runs in four overs as the rain-hit LV County Championship game against Leicestershire finally got under way at Grace Road.

Kadeer Ali, who hit his second championship century of the season, and Will Porterfield put on 186 before teenager Joshua Cobb dismissed both of them in successive overs.

Paceman Garnett Kruger then had Hamish Marshall leg before two balls later as bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire slumped to 193 for three - but recovered to reach 223 for three by the close.

With yesterday’s action washed out by heavy rain there was still some mopping up to do before the game could begin immediately after lunch.

Gloucestershire won the toss and there was some surprise when they decided to bat despite the damp conditions.

Kadeer Ali was the dominant force in the opening salvo

It certainly looked a gamble during the opening overs with Kadeer and Porterfield beaten on several occasions as the ball swung and seamed around.

Only nine runs came off the first nine overs before Kadeer released the shackles by stroking three boundaries in an over off Nadeem Malik.

That set Gloucestershire on their way. The openers grew in confidence, both producing some excellent attacking shots - particularly straight and through the covers.

Kadeer was the dominant partner, reaching his half-century out of a stand of 82 off 96 balls with nine fours.

By tea the visitors were 113 without loss and Porterfield reached his half-century soon afterwards off 117 balls.

Kadeer's century came with a sweetly struck six off Claude Henderson and there were 15 additional boundaries in his 184-ball innings.

The partnership reached 150 to better the stand between Porterfield and Craig Spearman against Warwickshire earlier in the season - but was finally broken at 186.

Cobb, an occasional leg-spinner, was brought on and after being hit for a six off his second ball by Kadeer had him caught behind by Paul Nixon off the next delivery for 113 off 193 balls.

In his next over Cobb struck again, this time bowling Porterfield as he tried to sweep.

The Gloucestershire collapse continued when Marshall offered no shot to a ball from Kruger and was given out leg before to turn the game on its head.

But Alex Gidman and chris Taylor saw things through to the close with the visitors on 223 for three at stumps.