Glos v Leics: Alex Gidman & Gareth Roderick in record stand

Alex Gidman's unbeaten career-best 221 included 29 fours and three sixes

Alex Gidman and Gareth Roderick shared a county record third-wicket stand of 392 for Gloucestershire on day one against Leicestershire at Nevil Road.

The pair came together on 47-2 after Will Tavare edged behind and Chris Dent was caught at second slip.

But, in four hours, they surpassed the 336 set by Wally Hammond and Bev Lyon, also against Leicestershire, in 1933.

Ollie Freckingham finally got Roderick for 171 but Gidman's unbeaten 221 saw them to the close on 513-5.

Freckingham's intervention, thanks to a Ned Eckersley catch, saw Gidman and Roderick - who both made career-bests - fall just three runs short of equalling their county's record for any wicket.

Despite missing out on that record, Gloucestershire, who elected to bat, have put themselves into a commanding position going into the second day against bottom club Leicestershire, still looking for their first Championship win in two years.

A total of seven Leicestershire bowlers were used on the first day, but that did not stop Gidman and Roderick both reaching career-best figures.

After Roderick fell, Gloucestershire lost two late wickets in Hamish Marshall and Ian Cockbain, but still surpassed 500.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Bob Hunt:

"It was a day of records at Bristol on a beauty of a batting pitch.

"Alex Gidman and Gareth Roderick both posted career bests, and their third-wicket partnership of 392 was just four short of an record for Gloucestershire in any cricket.

"As it was, it is a county third-wicket record for the home side."

BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae:

"The Leicestershire bowlers probably knew their fate when captain Josh Cobb lost the toss, because this is the pitch that was going to be used for the one-day international between England and India that was completely rained off a couple of days ago.

"Batsman-friendly as it was, however, Leicestershire's seamers struggled for consistency, bowling one and sometimes two 'four' balls an over, and Alex Gidman and Gareth Roderick took full advantage to post a Gloucestershire third-wicket county record partnership.

"It was the sort of day which Leicestershire's bowlers will not remember fondly, but from which they will - hopefully - learn a lot."