LV County Championship Division Two leaders Gloucestershire made up for lost time by taking maximum batting points as Hamish Marshall and Alex Gidman scored centuries at Chesterfield.

The pair shared a third-wicket stand of 233 in 59 overs to condemn Derbyshire's bowlers to a day of toil on a slow pitch.

Marshall made 158 and Gidman 135 out of a total of 403 for five before a declaration left the home side with three overs to negotiate, which Chris Rodgers and Steve Stubbings easily survived to close on 19 without loss.

After only one hour's play was possible on the first two days, both teams had little option but to play for bonus points and Gloucestershire made sure they took full advantage of a good batting track after Grant Hodnett had gone early on a cool but dry morning.

Hodnett added only three to his overnight 28 when he prodded a wide ball from Graham Wagg into the hands of point to end a stand of 72 with Marshall.

But that was Derbyshire's last success until after tea as Marshall and Gidman took control to dominate the bowling.

Marshall reached his 50, which contained nine fours, off 74 balls and timed the ball sweetly from the start as the batsmen peppered the boundary ropes of the Queen's Park ground.

The closest Derbyshire came to parting them was when Gidman got an inside edge just past his leg stump on 38 but at lunch the visitors were well placed on 162 for two and there was more punishment to come for the bowlers in the afternoon.

Marshall reached his first century of the season, which came off 134 balls, when he swept Wagg, who had now switched from seam to spin, for his 17th four and the next milestone was the 200 stand, which came in 50 overs.

Marshall brought up his 150 off 218 balls before Gidman celebrated his second century of the season by driving Garry Park past mid-off for his ninth four.

At tea, Gloucestershire were 306 for two but Derbyshire finally broke through with the fourth ball of the last session.

Their decision to take the new ball as soon as it became available was rewarded when Marshall aimed a drive at Ian Hunter but there was just enough swing to take the edge and wicket-keeper Jamie Pipe pouched the catch.

Marshall's 158 had come from 237 balls and the New Zealander was only 10 short of a career best, although his departure did not halt Gloucestershire's progress towards a full complement of batting points.

Gidman clipped Tom Lungley to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up the 350 but the Gloucestershire skipper was then bowled by the medium pace of Wavell Hinds as he went back to try and force through the covers.

Craig Spearman was bowled by Lungley as he tried to whip the ball off his pads but Chris Taylor brought up the 400 before the declaration came; although, with so much time lost to rain, the match looks certain to end in a draw.