Half-centuries from Matthew Maynard and David Hemp helped Glamorgan post 314-6 on the opening day of the Frizzell County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at Bristol yesterday.

After winning the toss the visitors had to bat watchfully on a slow pitch and were 105-3 in the 44th over when Maynard came in to top score with 85, including 13 fours and a six.

Hemp contributed an unbeaten 64, while Gloucestershire's off-spinner Martyn Ball claimed three wickets for 63 runs.

Jack Russell moved into fifth place in the all-time wicketkeeper list when claiming the 1,311th first-class dismissal of his career by stumping opener Jimmy Maher.

The brilliant leg-side effort was off Ian Harvey in only the bowler's third over back in the side after returning from Australia's one-day series against Bangladesh.

It took Russell's tally of dismissals above Kent's Fred Huish, who played before the First World War.

Russell is now 33 behind Alan Knott, who occupies fourth place in the all-time list, and will have that target in his sights next season.

Gloucestershire were without skipper Mark Alleyne and seamer Mike Smith, who remain under treatment for back problems just 11 days before the C&G Trophy final against Worcestershire.

Both expect to be fit for that game, but Alleyne's injury is the more worrying and could rule him out of four-day cricket for the remainder of the season.

Frizzell County Championship Division Two: Bristol, Glamorgan 314-6 (M P Maynard 85, D L Hemp 64 no) v Gloucestershire; National Cricket League Division Two Old Trafford, Middlesex Crusaders 278-4 Innings Complete (A J Strauss 127, E C Joyce 70) v Lancashire Lightning 281-3 (S G Law 78, I J Sutcliffe 71, C L Hooper 51 no) Lancashire beat Middlesex by 7 wkts