GLOUCESTERSHIRE are rightly proud of the quality of their pace attack but their poor batting is the reason why they will now spend at least one more season in Division Two of the County Championship.

Yesterday they were bowled out for only 70 needing just 125 to win in the fourth innings against a Derbyshire side who remain 18th out of 18 counties even after this match.

Having bowled the visitors out for just 44 on day one, Gloucestershire somehow conspired to lose.

One of the factors behind the loss was their first innings collapse from 99-4 to 156 all out. But, even after Derbyshire had made 236 second time around, the hosts had to be firm favourites. However, a succession of kamikaze attacking shots proved to be Gloucestershire's downfall as they succumbed inside 25 overs before tea on the second day.

Former New Zealand Test player Hamish Marshall top-scored for the second innings running, with 44, but had absolutely no tangible support. Ireland skipper Will Porterfield did not survive the first over as he completed a pair when he was lbw to Graham Wagg's left-arm swing.

Teenager Chris Dent's promotion to opener for this game failed when he was bowled by Tim Groenewald to begin his stunning spell of 4-22 from 10 overs.

Skipper Alex Gidman added a duck to his first innings 13 when he flashed at Groenewald and lost his off stump and James Franklin made only one. The New Zealander had stated that batsmen could make runs on the surface with application but he showed none himself, swatting Groenewald to square cover.

Chris Taylor chipped Wagg to mid-wicket for a duck and Steve Snell, on one, top-edged a hook at the same bowler and lobbed an easy catch to deep square leg.

Jon Lewis was promoted ahead of debutant Jack Taylor but was lbw attacking Groenewald for two.

When Groenewald came off, Steffan Jones collected the wicket of Taylor in his first over when the youngster drove back a simple return catch to complete a first-team bow he will not look back on with relish.

And it was as good as finished in the next over when Marshall, having only specialist bowlers for company, was forced to play even more shots. He tried to hook Jonathan Clare's bouncer and got a top edge behind.

When last man Anthony Ireland was bowled by Clare, there were an unbelievable 229.3 overs left in the match.

The visitors began the day on 127-4 with Anguillan Chesney Hughes on 47 not out. The 19-year-old British passport holder, who scored his maiden hundred against Gloucestershire at Derby in May, advanced to within four runs of another ton before being stranded as Derbyshire were bowled out.

Zimbabwean Ireland finished with 4-59 to continue his impressive season, while Gemaal Hussain claimed 3-53.

First Ireland beat Steve Adshead for pace to bowl him for 10 and then Greg Smith played no shot to Lewis and had his stumps rattled for four.

Ireland's extra pace then had Robin Peterson skying to Jack Taylor first ball.

Ireland also had Clare caught by substitute fielder Jon Batty for 12 before Hughes was dropped by Porterfield at second off Hussain on 81.

Just before the lunch break, Franklin, the first innings destroyer with 7-14, took his only scalp of the innings when Wagg nicked one down the leg-side for 16.

Former Somerset favourite Jones was unable to guide Hughes to his century. Dropped by Gidman at second slip off Hussain, he was adjudged caught by the home skipper off the same bowler soon after.

The target looked paltry, even in the context of this amazing match, but it was still too much for Gloucestershire.