Matt Windows returned to form with 91 as Gloucestershire were dismissed for 334 on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival match with promotion hopefuls Hampshire.

The England A batsman, who was averaging just 19 before the game, struck 16 fours and a six in his 181-ball innings.

Chris Taylor (56) helped Windows put on 137 for the third wicket, but Gloucestershire were pegged back by Shaun Udal's 4-76 and Neil Johnson's 3-55.

Hampshire were hit by problems before play started when skipper Robin Smith (bruised ribs) and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas (ankle) withdrew through injury, while pace bowler Chris Tremlett had to miss the first hour's action because of emergency dental treatment.

Acting captain Will Kendall also lost the toss and Gloucestershire's Mark Alleyne had no hesitation in deciding to bat first on a good pitch.

Johnson looked the most threatening of Hampshire's attack in the morning session and he was rewarded with the wickets of Dominic Hewson and Kim Barnett, both caught behind by Adrian Aymes.

But Windows and Taylor regained the initiative for Gloucestershire with some fine stroke play, which delighted the 3,000 crowd.

Both players made good use of the short square-side boundaries and were confident enough to use their feet well against spinner Udal.

Taylor, fresh from 140 in the last championship match against Sussex, had moved smoothly to 56 when he was well caught by Kendall, low down at mid-off, from Alex Morris' bowling.

Morris then took a well-judged catch in the deep to dismiss Windows off Udal.

Alleyne, Jeremy Snape and Ian Harvey all fell after getting a start to their innings as Gloucestershire began to lose their way.

Udal accounted for Alleyne and Snape, both caught at short leg by Giles White, while Harvey edged Johnson to Aymes to give the Zimbabwean his third wicket.

Udal also had Jack Russell caught behind, as he attempted an expansive drive, and Gloucestershire looked as if they would fall below 300.

However, they were rescued by a ninth-wicket stand of 62 between Martyn Ball and Alastair Bressington.

Ball had struck 40, with four fours, before he edged Tremlett to Johnson at second slip.

Tremlett then had Ben Gannon caught by Jason Laney for a duck to conclude an intriguing day.