Ten Doeschate rebuilds Essex after Cook 48

Alastair Cook fell two short of a half-century as Essex were bowled out for 319 by Gloucestershire on the opening day at Bristol. The England captain, looking for some form ahead of the Ashes Series, faced 71 balls and hit nine fours before falling lbw to the medium pace of Benny Howell shortly before lunch.

Essex slipped to 169 for 5 at one stage, with Liam Norwell collecting three of the wickets, before skipper James Foster, with 63 and 73 from Ryan ten Doeschate added 115 for the sixth wicket. Howell and Norwell were the pick of the home attack, the latter ending the day with figures of 3 for 75, taking his first-class wicket tally for the summer to 39.

After winning the toss Essex had an early reprieve when opener Nick Browne was dropped on 1 by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, two-handed to his left off James Fuller. Browne went on to play some sweetly-timed shots that brought him seven fours before carelessly pulling a ball from Norwell straight to Jack Taylor at midwicket and departing for 36 with the total on 58.

Cook was dropped on 30 when Michael Klinger failed to get a hand to a top-edge through second slip, but batted with increasing assurance before getting a ball from Howell that nipped back off the seam and trapped him in front. Tom Westley was soon looking in good touch, particularly off his legs, as he moved to 33 by lunch, which was taken with Essex 121 for 2.

But the second ball after the interval accounted for Westley as he was caught behind off a bottom edge trying to cut Norwell. Gloucestershire spurned a third chance when Will Tavare spilled a difficult one offered by Ravi Bopara to third slip on 6. But there was no mistake when Jesse Ryder, on 17, top-edged a pull off Norwell and skied to keeper Jones.

When Bopara was pinned lbw by Fuller for 30, Essex were in danger of imploding, despite all their batsmen getting starts. But Foster was in no mood to surrender his wicket cheaply and brought up the 200 with a pulled four off Craig Miles as he and ten Doeschate set about repairing the damage. Foster reached a chanceless half-century off 106 balls, with a six and seven fours.

The century stand came up in 32 overs, but with 15 more added Foster fell to a fine low catch by Howell to his left off his own bowling. By then ten Doeschate was well set and he brought up his half-century before Howell struck for a third time, trapping Graham Napier lbw for a single.

When the second new ball was taken Fuller produced a good delivery to have Matt Salisbury caught behind and ten Doeschate suffered a similar fate chasing a wide delivery from Miles, having faced 147 balls and hit two sixes and four fours. Fuller, who finished with 3 for 85 ended the innings in the final over of the day, bowling last man James Porter.