A record partnership between Will Porterfield and Hamish Marshall helped Gloucestershire reach 190-2 on a first day shortened by rain at Edgbaston.

They shared 176 in 51 overs, surpassing two previous stands of 148 for the second wicket against Warwickshire.

Marshall drove sixes off spinners Ian Salisbury and Ant Botha as he posted his 10th first-class hundred.

Porterfield struck 13 fours in his 74 before he became a first Bears wicket for New Zealand seamer Chris Martin.

Gloucestershire might initially have rued their decision to bowl first in what proved to be helpful early conditions for the seamers.

They lost Kadeer Ali, back in the team after a broken finger and a sprained ankle, for only two at the end of the fourth over.

Kadeer edged Chris Woakes to give England batsman Ian Bell a straightforward, waist-high chance at second slip.

Martin bowled a useful opening spell of 0-15 from six overs, including successive boundaries from Porterfield - one authentic, one streaky.

Porterfield grew in confidence with Marshall, now EU-qualified through Irish ancestry, and the pair began to score at a good pace.

The previous record was set at Cheltenham College by Alf Dipper and Harry Smith in 1922 and equalled on the same ground in 1996 by Matt Windows and Tim Hancock.

There was a 90 minute rain delay, play resumed for a short period after tea but a further downpour ended the day.