Kirby profited as Derbyshire collapsed

Gloucestershire took early control of their game against a revamped Derbyshire on an opening day in Bristol which saw 16 wickets tumble.

Steve Kirby, passed fit after suffering concussion against Sussex, took 4-59 and Anthony Ireland 3-33 as Derbyshire lost 9-62 in 21 overs to muster 124.

Gloucestershire soon slipped to 72-4 in reply but Marcus North, with a polished 87, and Chris Taylor 68 attacked.

Both fell shortly before stumps but by then the hosts were 92 ahead on 216-6.

After Kirby pinned Chris Rogers lbw for three, Steve Stubbings (36) and John Sadler added 51 before Stubbings was bowled pushing forward to Kirby.

Sadler, who had already been dropped at gully, edged Mark Hardinges behind for 22 and Derbyshire - with four debutants - collapsed against a swinging ball.

Rikki Clarke, Dominic Telo, Greg Smith and Graham Wagg contributed just 10 runs between them and only a last-wicket stand of 30 between Ian Hunter and Tom Lungley prevented total embarrassment.

However, Kadeer Ali soon edged Lungley to second slip for a first-ball duck and Craig Spearman was caught behind off the same bowler to make it 18-2.

Hamish Marshall (25) was lbw to Clarke, who had Alex Gidman held at second slip three balls later.

Left-hander North moved stylishly to a half-century off 69 balls and looked a cut above the other batsmen as he and Taylor, whose fifty came off 60 balls, added 121.

North was lbw playing down the wrong line to Smith and Nayan Doshi had Taylor leg-before in his first over but their team still ended the day in the ascendancy.