The 23-year-old, born in Zimbabwe but who learned his trade in South Africa and holds an EU passport, struck an assured 88 to help his side to 226 for four and a lead of 47 when bad light stopped play.

Chris Bassano, another ECB-qualified import, ended the day unbeaten on 63, but the fact that Derbyshire will go into the third day in such a commanding position is due largely to the bowling efforts of Dominic Cork. The England seamer took his wickets tally to the season to 43 with five for 56 as Gloucestershire, resuming on 79 for five, were skittled for 179.

Alex Gidman, making his championship debut, contributed 67, but it was telling that no other batsman bettered the total of 29 extras.

Derbyshire wasted little time in opening up a lead, Gait unfurling a series of sweetly-timed strokes off front and back foot in a third-wicket stand with Bassano worth 86. He hit 15 boundaries in total, three of which came off successive deliveries from Ben Gannon, and it came as a major disappointment to the crowd when he was bowled by Mike Smith 12 runs short of his century.

Steve Stubbings had provided the early impetus, making light of the loss of Michael Di Venuto lbw playing across the line to Smith's first ball to strike five boundaries in a 32-ball 45. He was a little unfortunate to see a faint leg-glance off Gidman end in Jack Russell's gloves, but Gait and Bassano's partnership, which occupied just under 23 overs, ensured Gloucestershire face an uphill battle to save the game.

The demise of Gait bowled by Smith and Dominic Hewson, who was taken by Chris Taylor at second slip off Gannon, in the final session could not take the gloss off a day that belonged unquestionably to Derbyshire. Cork had Russell taken at first slip by Graeme Welch when play resumed in the morning courtesy of one slanted across the left-hander.

Ian Fisher was beaten for pace to hand Cork his fifth wicket of the innings, but Gidman, who had seen edges off Dean and Welch race to the third-man boundary, progressed to a 108-ball half-century.

Jon Lewis managed some powerful straight-driven fours before a similar attempt off Tom Lungley, on in place of Cork, ended in the hands of Dean at mid-off. The same bowler was spanked for three successive boundaries by Gidman, who had his innings cut short by a combination of Welch's medium-pacers and Karl Krikken's safe hands behind the stumps. Gannon then tickled one from Lungley to Cork at first slip on the stroke of lunch to bring Gloucestershire's innings to a close after just 58.2 overs.

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