FIFTH-wicket pair Will Tavare and Will Gidman held up Derbyshire and edged the first day of their LV County Championship match towards Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College.
Gloucestershire finished 304-6 after winning the toss but a very good spell with the second new ball by Tom Taylor sent Derbyshire into day two with renewed heart.
Taylor finally ended Tavare's innings on 135 and followed up by bowling Benny Howell to take figures of 3-43 in 16 overs. Gidman was 88 not out at the close.
Tavare survived more than his share of plays and misses in the first session of play but survived and then thrived in a stand of 175 for the fifth wicket with Gidman before he was caught behind.
Wickets for Mark Footitt and Taylor gave Derbyshire encouragement in the morning after the home side had won the toss and chosen to bat first on a wicket that looks ideal for batting on.
Footitt took some time to find his line but drew Michael Klinger into a drive off the last ball of the fifth over and Billy Godleman, recalled to the side in place of Paul Borrington, took a good catch diving forward at short extra cover.
Klinger made two and that was 7-1.
Taylor replaced Tony Palladino from the chapel end and showed the confidence he took from a good performance at Chesterfield as he found extra bounce to Alex Gidman (10) and Wes Durston took a flying catch at second slip at 34-2.
Hamish Marshall made a positive start and moved smoothly on to 45 before making the mistake of playing no shot to a Tony Palladino ball that nipped back to make it 100-3, then Palladino earned another lbw decision six overs later to dismiss Ian Cockbain for five at 118-4.
But Tavare and Will Gidman responded by taking the attack to the Derbyshire bowling to give Gloucestershire the advantage. Taylor struck back late on to make it a very good day of Championship cricket.
