Paul Johnson hit a fine 149 to steer Nottinghamshire to 322 on the first day of their CricInfo Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The former Nottinghamshire skipper had been in wretched form prior to this game, with four ducks and a top score of 35 from his previous 13 innings.

But he looked back to his best on a typically slow County Ground pitch as he drove the majority of his 24 fours through the covers or pulled them to midwicket.

Gloucestershire skipper Mark Alleyne had opted to field first in humid conditions, but the new ball was used poorly and it was not until the over before lunch that an opening stand of 117 between Darren Bicknell and Guy Welton was broken, when Bicknell was caught behind off Alleyne for 50.

Welton, like Johnson, has been out of touch recently, but he batted attractively for his 61 before falling leg before to James Averis.

Alleyne, Averis and Ian Harvey induced an afternoon collapse which saw Nottinghamshire slip to 178-6 in the afternoon session.

But Johnson then received good support from Richard Logan, who helped put on 61 for the seventh wicket, and Greg Smith, who shared a ninth wicket partnership of 45, which ensured three batting bonus points for the visitors.

Johnson was finally last man out when his 190-ball innings ended with a catch to Rob Cunliffe at long on from Martyn Ball's bowling.

Gloucestershire had gone into the game without leading run scorer Kim Barnett due to illness.

His place has been taken by Cunliffe, ironically the day after his request to be released from the final year of his contract had been granted by Gloucestershire.

© CricInfo