A century opening stand between Kim Barnett and Craig Spearman was enough to earn Gloucestershire a draw from their Frizzell County Championship Division Two encounter with Derbyshire.

Gloucestershire reached 225-7 off 54 overs after being skittled for 179 first time around and then seen Dominic Cork help lift Derbyshire to a first-innings total of 398 all out.

Derbyshire secured 11 points and Gloucestershire 6.25 and, with a full day lost to rain, a draw was always the most likely outcome.

Spearman (95) and Barnett saved the day for Gloucestershire, putting on 115 for the first wicket inside 21 overs to keep the Derbyshire attack at bay.

The home side enjoyed a 219-run first-innings lead and were looking to skittle their visitors to take the spoils.

Barnett was first to go, beaten for pace by one from Graeme Welch one short of his 50, but not before the veteran cracked seven fours and a six in a 61-ball knock.

Welch then saw off Chris Taylor (15), who edged to Steve Stubbings at third slip, to leave Gloucestershire on 147 for two.

Matt Windows went for 10, trapped lbw by Cork with the score on 191 and the same bowler dismissed skipper Mark Alleyne for a duck in identical fashion two balls later to leave the visitors on 191-4.

Jack Russell (2) edged one from Kevin Dean behind to wicketkeeper Karl Krikken with the score on 196 and then Kiwi Spearman went lbw to Cork five short of his hundred. He had faced 169 balls and struck 16 fours.

That left Gloucestershire on 222-6, and when Dean clean bowled Ian Fisher for a duck there was just time enough for Alex Gidman to contribute five before both skippers called time.

Resuming on 226-4 Derbyshire had rattled up 398 all out earlier with Chris Bassano (78) and England all-rounder Cork leading the way.

Gloucestershire had slumped to a first-innings total of 179 and with the home side piling on the runs there was a slim chance of bowling Gloucestershire out for victory.

Mike Smith, who finished with four for 87, ended Bassano's stay at the crease, trapping him lbw to leave Derbyshire on 269-5. Bassano had struck nine fours and faced 164 balls.

Tom Lungley maintained the hosts' momentum, but he departed three overs later for 38 with the score on 287-6 when he was trapped lbw by Fisher while attempting an audacious sweep.

Enter Cork. He raced to 67 from 61 balls, launching two huge sixes and clubbing six fours.

Krikken (8) was caught by Gidman off one from Jon Lewis to leave Derbyshire on 318-7 and Mohammad Ali (8) was snaffled by Chris Taylor at long-on off Fisher with the score on 333-8.

After Cork departed, driving Lewis to Taylor at third man, Derbyshire were 396 for nine.

Smith bowled Dean for a duck next over as the home side were all out for 398.