LANCASHIRE took two late Gloucestershire wickets to edge the opening day of their LV=County Championship match in Bristol.

Despite solid innings from Karl Brown (57) and Steven Croft (65), Lancashire were 190-7 at one stage before useful late order contributions from Jordan Clark (35), Tom Bailey (30) and coach Glenn Chapple, who blasted 29 not out from 13 balls to ensure a second batting point.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Gloucestershire suffered a blow when wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick had to be taken to hospital for x-rays on a damaged hand. Geraint Jones took over the gloves in the afternoon session.

By the close the home side had slipped to 15-2 from 10 overs. Lancashire, who opted to go into the game without a specialist spinner, preferring to give the evergreen Chapple a first outing.

Lancashire found runs hard to come by in the morning session and were 65-3 at lunch off 31 overs.

Darwen’s Alex Davies fell for 11 in the afternoon as the home side looked to be taking control of the match.

But Croft and Bailey produced an eighth-wicket stand of 49 before Chapple took the score past 250, The hosts then openers Chris Dent (2) to Jarvis and Will Tavare (4) to Bailey.