Joe Clarke admits he responded to a ticking off from Saeed Ajmal as he scored his maiden 100 in senior cricket for Worcestershire in today's Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Gloucestershire at New Road.
Clarke went in at 28-2 and hit an unbeaten 131 off 109 balls with three sixes and 10 fours.
It followed on from his half century against Surrey at the Kia Oval last night but it was his failure to build on that platform which led to a word from Ajmal who skippered the side today in the absence of the injured Daryl Mitchell.
Clarke said: "To consolidate when I went in today was my main priority but the way I play anyway, I'm quite positive. I didn't want to let them just bowl at me, and wanted to take it back to them. Those were my main thoughts really.
"It was a bit slow and when they put the ball in good areas it did a bit, but it was a pretty nice wicket to bat on
"I got told off yesterday by Saeed Ajmal for not seeing it into the latter stages of the game so he told me to learn quickly.
"I said to him today that I'd take it a bit further so, with wickets at the other end going, I had to make sure I was there towards the end and get a big score.
"There were a few nerves in the 90s but I didn't try to think about it too much and just tried to make sure I got there and then knew as soon as I got there, I could free the arms and try and give it a whack."
Gloucestershire won by four wickets after openers Chris Dent and Will Tavare put on 106 in 17 overs.
Clarke said: "They came out and batted really positively for the first 10 overs and it set them up well in the chase. Credit to their openers.
"We never gave up and fought to the end and it's something we've done all year.
"Ed Barnard and Joe Leach got their rewards and maybe a couple of wickets early on and we could have nicked it."
