Chris Taylor (137) and Stephen Snell (127 not out) dragged Gloucestershire out of trouble on the opening day of their clash with Worcestershire.

The visitors were 85-5 when the duo came together and put on 222 from 53 overs in a county-record sixth wicket stand to push the score to 411-6.

Earlier, former England bowler Simon Jones took both openers in eight balls.

Taylor hit 17 fours before being caught behind and at stumps Mark Hardinges was at the crease with Snell, 66 not out.

Gloucestershire have lost on their last eight championship visits to New Road and when Jones claimed Grant Hodnett for one and Craig Spearman for seven, it looked like they were on for more of the same.

Gareth Andrew followed this up with the wicket of Hamish Marshall, and Steve Magoffin did more damage as he knocked out Marcus North's off-stump and had Alex Gidman caught behind.

But this brought the centurions together, and they stemmed the flow and took control of the match.

Snell added 124 through the afternoon, while Taylor began to punish Gareth Batty hitting him for three sixes before he was caught out.

This did little to dent the Gloucestershire charge, however, and Hardinges and Snell put on 104 before stumps.