Miles leads the way on intriguing first day of Cheltenham Festival

Craig Miles claimed four wickets as Gloucestershire bowled out Sussex for 286 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Cheltenham

^{Craig Miles was in good form for Gloucestershire at Cheltenham}

Cheltenham (first day of four): Sussex 286, Gloucestershire 42-0 - Gloucestershire trail by 244 runs with 10 first-innings wickets remaining

Craig Miles claimed four wickets as Gloucestershire bowled out Sussex for 286 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Cheltenham.

An intriguing start to the annual festival at the College Ground saw fortunes sway after the visitors had won the toss. They looked well placed at 74 without loss and 210 for four, but the home bowlers stuck to their task, led by Miles, who returned 4-68 from 18 overs.

Nineteen-year-old off-spinner George Drissell took his maiden first class wicket on the way to figures of 2-38 from 10 overs. There were also two victims for Kieran Noema-Barnett, while half-centuries from Phil Salt (57), Harry Finch (76) and Ben Brown (59) boosted the Sussex total.

By the close Gloucestershire had reduced the deficit by 42 without losing a wicket, skipper Chris Dent making 12 not out and Cheltenham-born Miles Hammond unbeaten on 27.

Sussex had been given a brisk start by the aggressive Salt, who dominated the opening stand with Luke Wells, reaching a 45-ball fifty, with eight fours and a six.

But when Wells, on 17, got a leading edge to Miles and was well caught by Graeme van Buuren at midwicket, running towards the fence, the hosts fought back hard.

Salt was yorked by Miles and the tall seamer notched a third victim as Luke Wright was snapped up by the diving James Bracey at midwicket for nine.

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When Michael Burgess fell lbw to Noema-Barnett for two in the 28th over Sussex had lost four wickets for 23 runs. They went in to lunch on 125 for four from 31 overs.

Finch and Brown then put Sussex back on top by adding 113 either side of the interval before Brown, whose half-century had come off 79 balls, became a maiden first class wicket for Drissell, a local product from Bedminster Cricket Club, lofting a catch to mid-off.

David Weiss fell lbw to Noema-Barnett, shouldering arms, and at tea Sussex were 219 for six, with Finch unbeaten on 65.

Drissell, maintaining a tight line and length from the College Lawn End, had Chris Jordan caught at slip for a third-ball duck and it was 236 for eight when Matt Taylor took a sharp catch one-handed off his own bowling to end Finch’s impressive knock, which occupied 142 balls and featured 13 fours.

Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson added 35 important runs before Archer played a poor shot to gift Miles his fourth wicket, courtesy of a straightforward Noema-Barnett slip catch.

And a patchy Sussex team effort ended when David Payne pinned last man Danny Briggs lbw with the second new ball. Robinson was left unbeaten on 27.

Gloucestershire batted positively in failing light, Hammond surviving a sharp chance to Salt in the slips off Robinson when on 18.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network