SWING could prove to be king for a second year running at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival.

Banking on an overcast first morning being the hardest time to bat, Gloucestershire Alex Gidman inserted visitors Glamorgan after winning the toss yesterday on the first day of their LV= County Championship fixture.

His seamers duly fulfilled their side of the bargain in spectacular fashion at Cheltenham College, bagging six wickets in the opening session before Mark Wallace and Robert Croft set about an impressive rebuilding job.

The duo put on 105 in 19 overs for the eighth wicket, a club record against Gloucestershire, to see their side to 216 all out at tea.

It was nonetheless the bowlers' day, Gemaal Hussain leading the way with four for 57 to take his season's tally to 46.

Franklin got the opening breakthrough with the final ball of the eighth over, Gareth Rees (9) edging a firm drive to Gidman at first slip.

Tom Maynard then departed for a duck in the New Zealander's next over, pinned leg before after playing across the line.

Plenty now rested on the sizeable shoulders of Glamorgan opener Mark Cosgrove, whose crisp hitting threatened to take away Gidman's control of proceedings.

But he fell nine short of a half-century thanks to a sharp catch at mid-off by Jon Lewis, Hussain with the crucial scalp.

No further runs had been added when Lewis got his name among the wickets, Ben Wright (17) adjudged leg before to leave the visitors in peril at 74 for four.

Hobbling through to lunch with no further damage was now their aim, but a fired-up Steve Kirby was intent on joining the party and cleaned up Jim Allenby (3) courtesy of an airy shot.

Two overs later Kirby was at it again, trapping Glamorgan skipper Jamie Dalrymple plum in front to make it 89 for six.

The Dragons resumed after the interval still six down and two adrift of a ton, hopes pinned on some obdurate resistance from Wallace and James Harris.

Gloucestershire had other ideas, and Hussain quickly got rid of the latter with a rising delivery which was fended to Gidman in the cordon.

That brought 40-year-old Croft to the middle, clearly keen to prove his worth against the county who coveted his services on loan earlier this summer.

An experienced partner certainly seemed to free Wallace from the shackles, and Kirby was made to suffer as the wicketkeeper pulled him for three glorious sixes.

Two of them came off successive balls in the 40th over, and the half-century was reached from only 66 deliveries.

Vikram Banerjee and Hussain were also put to the sword as Wallace cut loose and Glamorgan secured their first batting point.

Hussain eventually had the last laugh when Wallace (72) fell to a fine low catch by Chris Dent at slip, ending an 83-ball knock which contained eight fours and four sixes.

Dean Cosker (1) was adjudged leg before to Lewis in the next over and Croft finally perished to Hussain for 44, Gidman grabbing his third catch of the innings.

■ Gloucestershire have extended their 'kids for a quid' scheme at the Festival.

It will now apply to today and tomorrow's action against Glamorgan and the first day of the LV= County Championship match against Worcestershire on Wednesday.

As well as the cricket, other attractions at the Festival, include the C&G kidzone, which offers free cricket coaching sessions for under-16s.