Cork leaves visitors flat

Captain Cork claimed three for 28 and Dean two for 22 to reduce the visitors to 79 for five at the close of a rain-interrupted first day, with Jack Russell and debutant Alex Gidman unbeaten on 20 and 15 respectively. They shared an unbroken stand of 40, no mean feat considering the fact that they were brought together following the fall of four wickets for just nine runs.

Rain delayed the start by half an hour, and further showers brought the players off for an early lunch just before midday. But the 6.5 overs possible in the first session were enough for Derbyshire to make a breakthrough, Cork taking his wickets tally for the season to 39 when he induced an edge from Kim Barnett that Karl Krikken claimed behind the stumps.

Further showers delayed play, and Gloucestershire's demise, until after tea, but Cork made the most of an extended breather by rearranging Chris Taylor's stumps in his second over after the restart.

Dean got in on the act with the wickets of Craig Spearman and Matt Windows, the New Zealander taken by Michael Di Venuto at second slip following a lazy drive and Windows held by Dominic Hewson at short leg. Their dismissals sandwiched that of Mark Alleyne, who provided Krikken with his second catch courtesy of a faint nick off Cork.

However, Russell demonstrated his famous resilience for more than 13 testing overs, and Gidman showed few of the nerves that would have affected several lesser players on their first-class debut to see Gloucestershire through to the close.

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