Yorkshire found themselves on the receiving end of a fierce assault from Matt Windows on another rain-shortened day at Cheltenham yesterday when Gloucestershire made every effort to make up for lost time.

Driving strongly through the covers, Windows rattled up 73 off 104 balls with 13 fours and a six before becoming one of two victims in an over for Steve Kirby whose double strike helped apply the brake on Gloucestershire who were 201-6 at the close.

A spell of morning rain brought a further soaking to the rain-sodden ground and it came as a surprise to everyone that it should dry out sufficiently for a 2.40pm start which saw Gloucestershire resume on 33-2.

Chris Silverwood and Kirby continued their opening spells but neither bowled the right length and Tim Hancock and Windows raced the score along with some punishing strokes through the covers.

Yorkshire persisted with attacking fields and both batsmen were fully in charge at 81-2 when rain brought forward the tea interval and caused a further five overs to be lost.

The first bowling change of the innings came at 82-2 in 23 overs when Vic Craven replaced Kirby but Silverwood continued for a while at the Chapel end and broke the 80-stand by getting Hancock to flick a legside catch to Simon Guy.

Runs continued to flow, however, as Alex Gidman helped add 69 in only ten overs with Windows who went to his 50 with a pulled six off Craven and then Silverwood's figures were spoiled by Gidman who hit him for three consecutive fours before the opening bowler took his first rest at 106-3.

Windows continued to punch the ball hard through the off side and was looking well set for a century until he aimed a drive at Kirby and edged into his stumps.

Kirby, who had replaced Silverwood, looked much happier in this spell and later in the over he dismissed Shoaib Malik, umpire Neil Mallender conferring with Trevor Jesty at square leg before confirming that the ball had carried to Stephen Fleming at first slip.

With two slow bowlers in the side Yorkshire turned to spin for the first time at 158-5 in 37 overs with the introduction of Andy Gray and he kept the ball after a nine over break for rain.

Gidman had been contained somewhat after his robust start and it was the ever-improving Craven who claimed his wicket for 43 from 65 balls with seven fours, the batsman attempting to force off the backfoot and being smartly caught by Guy.

Former Yorkshire left-arm spinner Ian Fisher came in at 184-6 and he and Jack Russell carefully took Gloucestershire to their first batting bonus point but with three overs remaining bad light ended play at 201-6, a total of 60 overs being lost in the day and 153 in the first half of the match.

Updated: 09:58 Friday, August 01, 2003