CHELTENHAM

Day two of four (Gloucestershire won toss)

Worcestershire 325-1 (V.S. Solanki 179 not out, S.C. Moore 120 not out) v Gloucestershire 283 (M.J. North 98, D.O. Brown 83, Kabir Ali 6-94)

Lunch

Vikram Solanki, whose form has been inconsistent this season, struck a powerful century before lunch on the second day of the Cheltenham festival to put Worcestershire, the second division championship leaders, into a commanding position. On this quick-scoring school ground, he drove the faster bowlers and left arm spin of Vikram Banerjee alike with immense power and purpose. Needing 137 for 13,000 first-class career runs, the Worcestershire captain was on 101 at lunch.

Gloucestershire, who had taken the wicket of Daryl Mitchell overnight, had no success in the morning session as Solanki and Stephen Moore, who is sought by no fewer than five counties for next season, put on 168 in 30 overs . Neither Steve Kirby, who tried his luck at both ends, nor Oliver Newby had any joy on a ground on which, once the inner ring had been bisected, the ball invariably went to the boundary. Solanki's century came off 88 balls and included 18 fours.

Tea

Gloucestershire's attack could not contend with the forceful strokeplay of Vikram Solanki and Stephen Moore, who extended their partnership to 301, creating a second wicket record for Worcestershire in the process.

This beat the partnership of 300 between Graeme Hick, who is playing in this match, and Philip Weston, against the Indians in 1996. Whichever bowler was tried by Alex Gidman was dispatched summarily to the boundary ropes.

Rain, which brought about an early tea, provided the only respite for Gloucestershire. Solanki by then had struck 32 fours and a five in his 179, having faced 161 balls, and Moore, who was the perfect foil, 16 fours and a six in his 120 from 132 balls.

In the course of this innings, the opening batsman reached 1,000 runs for the third time, completing his fourth century of the season.