Di Venuto hit a magnificent 175 not out featuring 28 fours and a six as Derbyshire finished on 319 for five. But, with heavy showers wiping out 38 overs on a stop-start final day, they finished well short of their improbable victory target of 583.

Derbyshire resumed on 155 for one, still 428 from victory but Di Venuto continued his impressive play from the previous day by reaching a superb 109-ball century.

On a rain-interrupted morning, only 28 runs came from 14 overs in the pre-lunch session and with Chris Bassano batting solidly at one end, Di Venuto was content to pick off the bad balls and was particularly impressive off the back foot - either driving or cutting.

After the lunch interval, only two overs were possible before rain drove off the players again with the total on 195 for one. The interruptions did no favours to either side and, after another brief passage of play allowed Derbyshire to advance their total to 212, the weather drove off the players for a lengthy break.

Play again got under way just before 3pm and the visitors lost their second wicket when Bassano (51) was trapped leg before by left-arm spinner Ian Fisher with the total on 224. Bassano's second-wicket stand with Di Venuto realised 129 runs. Di Venuto continued untroubled but saw wickets fall cheaply at the other end.

Dominic Hewson scored only seven before he edged a good-length delivery from Roger Sillence to wicketkeeper Jack Russell and then Steve Selwood (10) was dismissed by the same bowler, caught at square leg from a mistimed pull by Gloucestershire skipper Mark Alleyne.

Sillence grabbed a third wicket during an impressive spell when he clean bowled Mathew Dowman for three with the total on 295 but Di Venuto was content to accumulate and both he and Luke Sutton batted through to the close.

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