JOE Clarke, pictured, hit an unbeaten century for Worcestershire as they fought back on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

In reply to Gloucestershire’s first innings of 380 all out, Worcestershire slipped to 162-5 before Clarke (103 not out) and Ben Cox (59 not out) took the visitors to 297-5 at the close.

Moeen Ali (74) and opener Brett D’Oliveira (40) put together a century stand after the County had suffered a setback when skipper Daryl Mitchell was lbw to David Payne from the first ball of the innings.

Moeen reeled off a succession of straight drives and his half century came up out of 84-1 with 10 boundaries off 85 balls.

The ace reached 74 before he was caught behind after hitting 14 fours and a six in his 102-ball knock.

D’Oliveira made an accomplished 40 from 82 deliveries before he was lbw to Noema-Barnett.

Then Tom Kohler-Cadmore (0) was bowled off an inside edge with the total 131-4.

It became 162-5 when Ross Whiteley (8) was caught behind off Noema-Barnett.

Earlier, Jack Shantry and Matt Henry ensured Worcestershire claimed maximum bowling points as Gloucestershire lost five quick wickets during the morning session.

Gloucestershire resumed on 336-5 from 96 overs and were eventually dismissed for 380 in 114.2 overs.

The impressive Shantry finished with 4-89 from 31.2 overs and Henry, on his County debut, 3-89 from 31 overs as the pair bowled unchanged for 75 minutes during the morning.

Noema-Barnett failed to add to his overnight 84 and Hamish Marshall went for 135.