Hamish Marshall and Alex Gidman led a Gloucestershire recovery after Derbyshire looked on course, albeit briefly, for a three-day victory.

The pair set a new Gloucestershire record for the fourth wicket against their hosts by adding an unbroken 186 before bad light ended play early.

Marshall (120 not out) survived a nasty blow under the helmet on 94 to complete his first Championship century of 2007.

Gidman was 69 not out in a total of 220-3, Derbyshire leading by 22.

Gloucestershire had been asked to follow on after Tom Lungley took 5-49 in the visitors' first innings total of 258.

Gidman had played a lone hand in the morning while wickets tumbled around him as the pace bowlers got the ball to swing under the cloud cover.

Lungley was again the pick of the attack, with wicket-keeper Jamie Pipe having a hand in three of the dismissals to finish with five catches in the innings.

Gidman was finally lbw for 91 sweeping at Ant Botha and was back in the middle two hours later after Lungley had Vikram Banerjee caught behind and then removed the openers when the visitors followed on 242 runs behind.

At 34-3, a major crisis loomed but Marshall and Gidman responded well.

Gidman had a lucky moment when edging Ian Hunter straight through Travis Birt at first slip on 40.