Chris Tremlett made an instant impression on his Surrey debut, claiming 4-35 from his eighteen overs to help reduce Gloucestershire to 127-7 before the visitors rallied either side of tea to post 229 in their first innings. Gloucestershire were indebted to Steve Snell and Vikram Banerjee's 52-run stand for the eighth wicket, as well as a lively cameo from Steve Kirby, who made an unbeaten 20 coming in at number eleven. However, thanks to a busy opening stand between Gareth Batty and Arun Harinath, the hosts had already knocked off 56 by the close on day one.

But the day belonged to Tremlett, whom Surrey have held in reserve since the start of the season, in order to manage a groin problem not to mention his workload. The 28-year-old's ability to obtain extra bounce from a relatively placid pitch meant that he was a persistent handful for the Gloucestershire batsmen, who were more at ease against the other Surrey seamers.

The visitors' troubles began when Jonathan Batty, playing his first match at the Brit Oval since leaving Surrey at the end of last summer, was caught down the leg-side off the fourth ball for eight. With wickets in each of his first two overs, Tremlett then reduced Gloucestershire to 15-3 by having Hamish Marshall - who, before yesterday, had never been out for less than fifty against Surrey in the championship - edging to second slip and Alex Gidman caught at square leg after failing to get on top of a delivery that lifted off a good length.

Chris Dent, who hinted that he is could one to keep an eye on for the future, cover drove Stuart Meaker for four to bring up the fifty for the visitors in the 17th over before departing, four overs later, when he played back to Gareth Batty's arm ball. In the fifth over after lunch Tremlett trapped Chris Taylor on the crease to make it 93-5.

Steve Snell announced himself by hooking Jade Dernbach to the long leg boundary to take Gloucestershire past one hundred, but in the next over, the 39th, James Franklin was harshly adjudged to be leg before to a delivery from Rao Iftikhar Anjum that appeared to be missing off stump.

102-6 became 127-7 three overs later when Jon Lewis poked a well-flighted ball from Chris Schofield into the hands of Harinath at forward short leg. But, with the help of Vikram Banerjee, Snell engineered something of a recovery for Gloucestershire, taking full advantage of some loose deliveries from Schofield.

The eighth wicket pair held firm for 17 overs until Snell was caught behind, aiming an indeterminate drive at Meaker. Tremlett returned to strike again in the first over after tea when Geemal Hussain played around a straight delivery, but with Banerjee cutting Gareth Batty and Steve Kirby launching Dernbach over wide long-on for six, Gloucestershire's tenth wicket produced 42 in 15 overs before Schofield, bowling around the wicket, undid Banerjee with a quicker delivery.

With just one recognised opener in Harinath, the hosts promoted Gareth Batty to take first strike. After playing and missing on a couple of occasions the former Worcestershire man was quick to impose himself on the Gloucestershire attack. Batty brought the fifty partnership up in the 11th over with an on driven four off Hussain. But two overs later Hussain broke through Gareth Batty's defences to flatten his off stump; bringing Tremlett back on to the stage, this time as nightwatchman.

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