COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Cheltenham:
CLOSE OF PLAY DAY ONE: Derbyshire 326, Gloucestershire 10-0 (Glos 3pts, Derbys 3pts)
12 - 15 July 2009 (Play starts 1100 BST)

Greg Smith helped Derbyshire through a worrying batting collapse

Dropped catches by Gloucestershire proved costly as Derbyshire were all out for 326 on the opening day of their Cheltenham Festival.

South African Greg Smith hit a career-best 126 after being dropped on 2. And Australian opener Chris Rogers was missed on 4 but went on to make 81.

The visitors slipped to 119-5 before Smith led a lower order recovery.

Jon Lewis was the most successful bowler with 3-40 for Gloucestershire, who then reached 10-0 by the close.

James Franklin wrapped up the final three wickets to end on 3-59.

Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat but, within the first three overs Gloucestershire had dropped both openers Rogers and Wayne Madsen.

Madsen, dropped before he had scored, was then caught behind off Lewis for 7, Gloucestershire's one breakthrough before lunch.

But Derbyshire then collapsed in early afternoon from 112-1 to 119-5, including that let-off when Smith was dropped by Craig Spearman.

Smith and Jamie Pipe steadied the ship for Derbyshire with a stand of 64.

And, when Pipe was bowled by Vikram Banerjee, Smith then took up with Graeme Wagg to add 48 as they took the score onto 231-6 at tea.

Wagg went to the first ball after the resumption but Tim Groenewald then helped Smith add 90 for the eighth wicket.

Groenewald was eventually caught off a thick edge, Smith following four overs later. And Steffan Jones, on his on-loan return to the county, lasted just one ball.

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