Specsavers County Championship Div Two
Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
Gloucestershire 380 & 217-6 (Dent 81*, Cockbain 67; Henry 3-60)
Worcestershire 411 (Clarke 135, Moeen 74, Cox 61; Payne 3-89)
Gloucestershire lead by 186 runs after day three of four

CHRIS DENT maintained his impressive early-season form as Gloucestershire and Worcestershire grappled for supremacy on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match at the Brightside Ground, Bristol, writes Richard Latham.

The 25-year-old left-hander followed up a big hundred against Derbyshire and 59 in the first innings of this game with a rock solid 81 not out off 175 balls to help the hosts to 217-6 in their second innings at the close, a lead of 186.

Matt Henry claimed 3-60.

Ian Cockbain (67) gave good support in a second-wicket stand of 108 after Worcestershire had been bowled out for 411, Joe Clarke top-scoring with 135.

The morning session saw Clarke add 32 to his overnight score after Worcestershire resumed their first innings on 297-5.

The 19-year-old was dropped on 106 by Cockbain at point off Kieran Noema-Barnett, but otherwise built soundly on his second day hundred.

Clarke had hit 17 fours when ninth man out, bowled by Liam Norwell with a good delivery that surprised him by nipping back off the seam.

His overnight partner Cox had been equally surprised by the first ball of the day from Noema-Barnett, which somehow split his bat in two as he played defensively.

After summoning a replacement, Cox added 10 to the 59 he scored on day two before being caught behind by the diving Gareth Roderick off Norwell.

Joe Leach was bowled shouldering arms to a David Payne inswinger and when Ed Barnard was well held by Dent at second slip, driving at Norwell, Gloucestershire looked favourites for a first innings lead.

But Henry then contributed to stands of 39 with Clarke and 41 with last man Jack Shantry to ensure his side of maximum batting points and a lead of 31.

Gloucestershire overtook the deficit without losing a wicket as Dent and Cameron Bancroft put together and opening stand of 49 before the latter was caught behind off Barnard for 29.

Dent was unbeaten on 46 at tea, having added 80 with a confident looking Cockbain, who reached his half-century two balls after the interval by pulling Leach for his 10th boundary.

Cockbain was particularly impressive when driving and didn’t play like a batsman who managed only 139 Championship runs last season at an average of 13.9.

Dent soon followed him to a more sedate 50 off 102 balls with eight fours.

But, with Gloucestershire getting on top, Leach struck twice in the same over, taking a return catch off a leading edge to dismiss Cockbain and then pinning Gareth Roderick lbw with a full delivery for a third-ball duck.

First innings centurion Hamish Marshall had made 17 when bowled by Henry with the lead 159 and the Kiwi paceman followed up by dismissing George Hankins and Noema-Barnett with successive balls in an impressive late burst from the Ashley Down Road End.

But Dent stood firm to keep Gloucestershire hopes alive.

Gloucestershire batsman Ian Cockbain said: "We feel the game is really set up nicely for the final day. The pitch is doing a bit for the seamers, but we need to bat well in a very important first session.

"Chris Dent has done a great job for us. He has been very patient and is batting really well.

"I was annoyed to get out because I felt in good nick. It's nice to be playing regularly again after missing the end of last season through injury and that was the best I have felt in a while."