50,493,196 buzzing insects

Gloucestershire 146 for 5 (33 overs). Taylor 45, Snell 19.

Carter, not for the first time in his career, has bowled very well with very little luck. Snell on 0 edged at catchable height between wicket-keeper and slip who left it to each other. Snell then attempted to leave a ball which scooted off the face of his bat through the cordon for four more.

Gloucestershire edging towards safety. Carter and Botha on.

There has been one recent casualty. The correspondent of the Bristol Evening Post has just killed a fly. A small and futile gesture, in a way, considering we are peering towards the cricket through a thick, seething curtain of 50,493,196 buzzing insects but it gave us all a morale boost.