LUNCH: Gloucestershire 118-3 (Marshall not out 18, Gidman not out 0 - 29 overs)

Kadeer Ali cruised to an elegant half century as Gloucestershire’s batsmen attempted to reassert themselves on the opening day of the County Championship Second Division match against Glamorgan at Bristol.

Visiting captain James Dalrymple won the toss and had no hesitation in inserting opponents who had failed to muster a score of more than 200 in any of their last three Championship outings.

His decision was justified when his seamers reduced Gloucestershire to 118-3 at lunch.

Rob Woodman perished in the eighth over, failing to withdraw his bat in time and edging a rising delivery from Adam Shantry behind for 15.

Irish international Will Porterfield was out for 22 driving at a ball from James Harris which pitched outside off stump, Dalrymple holding on to a startling shoulder-height catch at second slip to reduce Gloucestershire to 86-2 in the 22nd over.

Having offered stiff resistance in making 53 from 83 balls, including 11 fours, Kadeer blotted his copybook in the final over before lunch, cutting Shantry lamely to Will Bragg at backward point.

Gloucestershire: Woodman, Ali, Porterfield, Marshall, Gidman, Taylor, Franklin, Adshead, Lewis, Saxelby, Kirby.

Glamorgan: Rees, Gibbs, Bragg, Powell, Dalrymple, Wallace, Harris, Croft, Shantry, Harrison, Kruger.

Umpires: Nick Cook, Peter Hartley.