ALEX Gidman and Gareth Roderick re-wrote the Gloucestershire record books on an incredible first day of their County Championship game against Leicestershire at the County Ground in Bristol.

The hosts reached a remarkable 513-5 at the close on Tuesday after captain Gidman and Roderick shared a partnership of 392 – the club’s highest ever in a County Championship fixture and only three short of the best for any wicket in first class cricket, set by Martin Young and Ron Nicholls against Oxford University in 1962.

They came together with the score on 47-2 and both went onto record career-best scores, Roderick eventually falling for 171.

Gidman made 264 off 274 balls before he was trapped by Atif Sheikh, who removed Craig Miles and Liam Norwell from his next two balls to claim a hat-trick as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 646 before lunch on Wednesday.