Gloucestershire recorded their highest opening partnership of the season but lost three wickets in four overs before closing day two at Leicester on 223-3.

Kadeer Ali hit 16 fours and two sixes in his second century of the season, sharing 186 with Will Porterfield (66).

Teenager leg-spinner Joshua Cobb was hit for six second ball by Kadeer but had him caught behind next ball.

He deceived left-hander Porterfield in his next over and Garnett Kruger ousted Hamish Marshall two balls later.

After the first day was lost to rain, there was some surprise when Jon Lewis opted to bat first, and the ball duly seamed around.

The openers were both beaten on several occasions as only nine runs came off the first nine overs, but Kadeer released the pressure with three boundaries in an over off Nadeem Malik.

Kadeer was first to fifty and reached three figures in fine style with a sweetly timed six off spinner Claude Henderson.

The partnership reached 150 to better the stand between Porterfield and Craig Spearman against Warwickshire earlier in the season.

But Cobb removed Kadeer and then added the wicket of Porterfield, who was bowled trying to sweep.

Marshall offered no shot to Kruger and was given out lbw, before Alex Gidman and Chris Taylor shared an unbroken 30 to take their side to stumps.