GLOUCESTERSHIRE Gladiators made a superb start to this year's Cheltenham Festival with a 65-run victory over Yorkshire in a top-of-the-table Clydesdale Bank 40 contest, writes Mark Easterbrook.

Half-centuries from Chris Taylor (83 not out) and Alex Gidman (64), plus valuable contrbutions from James Franklin (42), Hamish Marshall (42) and Steve Snell (24), guided the Gladiators to an imposing 294-6, in front of a near-full house crowd of 4,264 at the College Ground.

Yorkshire slumped to 39-4 inside six overs of their reply and, despite half-centuries from Adam Lyth (84) and Tim Bresnan (58), were eventually bowled out for 229 with four and-a-half overs left.

It was a fifth win in six 40-over games for the Gladiators this season and a first defeat in six matches for Yorkshire.

Gloucestershire have a magnificent one-day record at Cheltenham over the past decade and the players, raring to go after an eight-day break from action, again showed how much they enjoy playing at such a magnificent setting.

After being inserted by Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale, Gloucestershire overcame the early loss of Will Porterfield, caught at second slip for 17, to reach 50 in eight overs and 100 in 15.

Gidman and Franklin put on 105 in 17 overs for the second wicket Franklin gave a return catch to Steven Patterson.

Gidman, who looked in prime form, departed in the following over when he cut a ball from Tino Best into the hands of Richard Pyrah at backward point. His 64 came from 57 balls and included seven fours and two straight sixes.

The brisk scoring rate was maintained by Marshall and Taylor, who shared a stand of 98 in 14 overs.

Marshall fell for 42 when he pulled Bresnan to Best at backward square leg, and Chris Dent went soon after when he sliced a drive off Patterson to David Wainwright at short third man.

That brought Steve Snell to the middle and he and Taylor smashed 50 off the final four overs. Snell hit three fours and a six before he was run out at the bowler's end, attempting a third run, in the last over.

Taylor hammered the penultimate ball of the innings from Rashid for six over midwcket and the leg-spinner's last over cost 19 runs. Taylor walked off to a standing ovation and his 63-ball innings had contained four fours and three sixes.

Gloucestershire made a dream start in the field as Jon Lewis had dangerman Jacques Rudolph taken at second slip by Richard Dawson and clipped Rashid's off stump. In between, Anthony Ireland accounted for Andrew Gale, who played on, and Jonathan Bairstow, caught behind, off successive balls.

It became 73-5 when Steve Kirby produced a superb delivery to have Anthony McGrath caught behind off a defensive edge.

Lyth and Bresnan revived the innings with a partnership of 105 in 17 overs, but the Gladiators always remained strong favourites.

Kirby's return ended the reistance. The former Yorkshire paceman had Bresnan well caught on the run by Dawson at deep midwicket and then had Lyth taken by Marshall at mid-off from a skied drive.

Dawson claimed the last three wickets as he had Wainwright leg before, Pyrah taken at extra cover by Gidman and had Patterson caught behind.