Gloucestershire v Worcestershire: Fuller hat-trick gives Glos control

James Fuller took a hat-trick as Gloucestershire dominated on day one against Worcestershire.

The visitors were on course for a dismal total, having fallen to 22-6.

Pace bowler Fuller (5-43) was the chief architect of this, dismissing Matt Pardoe, Moeen Ali and Alexei Kervezee to leave Worcestershire on the ropes.

Joe Leach's career-best 82 not out and Gareth Andrew's 54 helped them recover to reach 182 all out before the visitors closed on 83-0.

Chris Dent had reached an unbeaten 56 by the close of play, his fourth Championship half century this summer, to leave the hosts trailing by 99 runs with all of their wickets in hand.

Graeme Cessford, currently taking a one-year break from the Royal Air Force to pursue a first-class cricket career, had a first day in Championship cricket to forget as, having been out for a 10-ball duck, he then lost 22 runs off his first three overs before being replaced.

However, the day will be remembered for Fuller's virtuoso performance and the first hat-trick at Cheltenham since James Franklin's in 2009.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Ian Randall:

"A curate's egg of a day, with Worcestershire now needing quick wickets to wrestle back any control.

"James Fuller's best performance of the season produced the first hat-trick of his career, helped by advice from Hamish Marshall over the hat-trick ball.

"Leach and Andrew showed that the pitch flattened out after lunch and Gloucestershire's openers Klinger and Dent backed that up in the final session.

"The home side will look to erase the deficit of 99 and then try and build a lead that will help them push on for their first win of the 2013 Festival."

BBC Hereford & Worcester's Dave Bradley:

"A crazy six over morning spell, as Worcestershire lost six wickets, could be the deciding factor in the game.

"Fuller got bounce early on and Worcestershire - in some instances - played some shots they would not look back on with great pleasure, although credit to the close catchers who hung on to just about everything.

"Andrew and Leach showed some fight and batting looked far more comfortable after lunch, Leach deserving a maiden century but running out of partners.

"Dent and Klinger made it look easy, taking the fight to Worcestershire, who will have to work hard to stop Gloucestershire building up a big first innings lead."

Match scorecard