Ben Cox hits century as Worcestershire rally against Gloucesteshire

Ben Cox came to Worcestershire's rescue with a career-best 124 on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

The 25-year-old wicketkeeper smacked 20 fours and two sixes in an exhilarating display, having gone in with his side struggling on 69-4 in reply to 383.

By the time Cox was out, Worcestershire had progressed to 279-7. They eventually declared 83 behind on 300 for nine, George Rhodes contributing 52 and Kieran Noema-Barnett claiming his best Gloucestershire figures of four for 31 from 16 overs.

Gloucestershire were left with a tricky eight overs to negotiate before the close but openers Cameron Bancroft and Chris Dent negotiated them without alarm, posting 20-0 and extending their side's lead to 103.

The day began with the home side adding 40 to their overnight total of 343-8, with Jack Taylor last man out for 143.

It looked a more than handy total on a pitch offering seam movement under overcast skies.

Soon David Payne and Liam Norwell were capitalising. Left-armer Payne struck first as Daryl Mitchell fell lbw pushing forward in the fifth over.

Norwell produced a fine opening spell and was unlucky to claim only the wicket of Tom Fell, snapped up by Noema-Barnett at fourth slip to make it 25-2.

Brett D'Oliveira (25) looked in good touch before gifting his wicket, pulling a short ball from Craig Miles straight to Norwell on the deep square-leg boundary.

It was 68-3 at lunch and, with only a single added in the afternoon session, Joe Clarke (23) shouldered arms to Noema-Barnett, who nipped one back to bowl him.

Cox and Rhodes then set about steadying the ship and did so to excellent effect, adding 110 before tea was taken and batting with increasing confidence.

A further 31 runs were added at the start of the final session before Rhodes cut loosely at Miles and directed a catch straight to Will Tavare at backward point.

By then Cox was cutting loose with a series of crisply struck boundaries all around the wicket. It took him just 45 balls to move from fifty to his third first-class hundred.

Cox then went past his previous best score of 109 before being caught behind, edging an attempted cut off Noema-Barnett.

The Gloucestershire all-rounder then removed Ed Barnard and John Hastings in the same over to take four wickets in a championship innings for the first time since joining the county two seasons ago.