NANTIE Hayward and Matt Mason took three wickets each to give Division Two leaders Worcestershire the upper hand on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival match with Gloucestershire.

Hayward claimed 3-77 and Mason 3-48 as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 271 after winning the toss.

But it could have been considerably worse for the home side, who were indebted to a last wicket stand of 58 between Jon Lewis and rookie wicketkeeper Stephen Pope.

Lewis blazed his way to 47 from 33 balls, with four fours and three sixes, while Pope finished unbeaten with a battling 17.

On a day in which 14 overs were lost to rain, Worcestershire reached 48-1 at the close. Stephen Peters was the man to depart when he clipped a catch to Alex Gidman at square leg off James Averis.

Overcast conditions assisted swing bowling and the pace attack of Hayward, Mason, Kabir Ali and Andrew Hall all looked dangerous.

Hayward was no-balled six times by umpire Vanburn Holder in his opening six-over spell, but the South African also provided the breakthrough when he had Spearman caught behind by Steven Rhodes.

Philip Weston, who had moved confidently to 28 against his former county, edged a catch to Vikram Solanki at first slip off Hall. Then Jonty Rhodes was caught at the wicket off Mason to leave the home side 85-3.

Worcestershire really took control of things just before lunch when Matt Windows and Alex Gidman were dismissed in the pace of three balls.

Wickets continued to fall regularly in the afternoon session. Mark Har-dinges edged to second slip, Malik was superbly caught by Gareth Batty at gully, Martyn Ball's breezy innings of 29 ended with a catch to silly mid-off and Averis skied a pull to wicketkeeper Rhodes.

It looked as if Gloucestershire's total would be badly under par before Lewis and Pope took the county to an unexpected second batting bonus point.

Pope's 17 not out was his best score in five first-class innings for the home county.