Alex Gidman is clean bowled by Darren Stevens for two

Gloucestershire struggled to 178-9 against Kent at Maidstone on day one of the Division One match at Maidstone.

But it could have been worse on a green wicket which attracted the ECB pitch inspectors, on a rain-shortened day.

Kent looked in a strong position when Upul Chandana was the seventh man out with the team total on a rocky 92.

But Ian Fisher (39) and Carl Greenidge (23 not out) put on 42 together. Simon Cook was the most successful of the Kent bowlers, with 3-54.

The only recognised batsman to produce any sort of score was Matt Windows, who contributed a hard-hit 39.

Kent had a let-off when wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien dropped Greenidge when he was yet to score.

If that had gone to hand, Gloucestershire would have been 128-9.