An explosive innings of 98 from Marcus North helped boost Gloucestershire's first-innings total at Chelmsford.

The Australian came in with the score at 27-2 but 16 boundaries in an innings of 125 balls helped steady the ship.

Mark Hardinges added 40 but he ran out of partners at 275 when Graham Napier, who finished with figures of 4-50, took the final two wickets.

Varun Chopra (43 not out) and Jason Gallian (23 not out) took Essex to 66 without loss at the close of play.

Both Chopra and Gallian were a little fortunate to see edged strokes against Jonathan Lewis and Steve Kirby fall just short of fielders, but they will look to take advantage on day two.

It could have been a lot worse for Gloucestershire if was not for North and Alex Gidman launching a recovery with a partnership of 79.

But North will have been disappointed with his dismissal just two runs short of a first championship century of the summer, sweeping a simple catch off Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to David Masters at short fine leg.

The visitors had earlier lost openers William Porterfield and Kadeer Ali in successive overs.