Durham failed to capitalise on an excellent start by their new overseas player, No 3 batsman Martin Love, after being put in by Gloucestershire at Chester-le-Street.

Looking strong off his legs, the Queenslander was rarely troubled and hit ten high-class fours in making 61 off 116 balls.

But from 102 for one Durham declined to 166 for six and it needed a good innings of 41 from last season's captain, Nick Speak, to help them to 237-8 at the close.

Visiting skipper Mark Alleyne kept wicket in the absence of Jack Russell with a slipped disc and claimed two victims. He held the catch which removed opener Michael Gough for ten then stumped Paul Collingwood down the leg side in off spinner Jeremy Snape's second over.

Love, tall and elegant, shared a second wicket stand of 89 with new Durham captain Jon Lewis, who edged his namesake to second slip after making 32. Love fell lbw to a quicker ball from fellow Australian Ian Harvey immediately after driving him to the cover boundary.

Harvey also held a smart catch at slip to get rid of Jimmy Daley to give Snape the second of his three wickets before Danny Law failed to score in his first innings for Durham. He gave Lewis a third wicket by offering a straightforward catch to extra cover.

Both sides had doubts over their star left-arm seamers, and while Durham declined to risk Simon Brown, Gloucestershire gambled on Mike Smith after his groin injury. But after taking none for 35 in 14 overs he was off the field for most of the afternoon.

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