DAY 2 Close: Worcestershire 229-6 trail Gloucestershire 245 by 16 runs (PTS: Worcs 4, Glos 3)
LIVE ball-by-ball commentary on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk
A late fightback from Gloucestershire hauled them back into the game after an under-par total and a blistering partnership of 107 between Alexei Kervezee and Moeen Ali had seen them begin to struggle.
Kervezee and Ali dominated after Phil Jaques edged Anthony Ireland to Steve Snell and Vikram Solanki gloved to Hamish Marshall in the gully just after tea. Those two wickets had brought Gloucestershire onto a more even keel after a seeing Jaques and Daryll Mitchell power their way to a 53 opening stand.
Gloucestershire needed wickets because there was seemingly nothing they could do to prevent the torrent of runs. The fourth wicket partnership came at almost seven-an-over, hence the complete relief when Jon Lewis had Kervezee, who brought up his 50 off just 45 balls, leg-before just as Worcestershire we looking to take complete hold of the match.
Lewis followed up his success by having Ben Smith caught a slip for just three and Alex Gidman - the only bowler to provide a modicum of control in the innings - produced a yorker to bowl Richard Jones for one.
Six down, and with a very vulnerable tail to follow, Gloucestershire are very much in touch. What they cannot allow, is Moeen to guide the tail and Worcestershire to make above 300.
The visitors would be even better placed had poor shot selection from several batsmen, chiefly from Marshall, who drove loosely to slip for 37 not given away decent starts. Gloucestershire failed to get into the better batting conditions of the second afternoon.
They should have made more and were indebted to Chris Taylor, who looked in control until he he played on for 71.
LIVE coverage continues tomorrow on www.gloscricketradio.co.uk
Official report: www.gloscricket.co.uk
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