Joe Clarke scored a memorable first 100 in senior cricket for Worcestershire in the Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Gloucestershire at New Road today.
The former England Under-19 player reached three figures in only his third List A match for the County off 97 balls with seven fours and a six.
It followed on from his half century in yesterday evening's RLC encounter with Surrey at the Kia Oval.
But Gloucestershire were up to the challenge of scoring 265 in 46 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method and reached their target with four wickets and seven balls to spare.
Clarke certainly has a liking for playing against Gloucestershire as he scored a double century in a Second Eleven match at Cheltenham College in May which helped him earn a place in the first team.
Five of the Gloucestershire side in action today – Will Tavare, Benny Howell, Jack Taylor, James Fuller and Tom Smith – also appeared in that Seconds match.
Clarke has certainly seized his opportunity after being promoted into the first team and scored a career best 88 in the last LV = County Championship match with champions Yorkshire at Scarborough.
He finished unbeaten today on 131 from 109 balls with three sixes – two in the final over from Howell – and 10 fours.
Worcestershire, who were without injured skipper Daryl Mitchell, were put into bat and quickly lost the wickets of Tom Kohler-Cadmore (7) and recalled opener Richard Oliver (14) to David Payne, caught behind and bowled via a bottom edge respectively.
Tom Fell (21) aimed a drive at Howell and was bowled and Brett D'Oliveira (22) went for a paddle sweep off spinner Smith and was caught at fine leg by Fuller.
The major stand of the innings saw Clarke and Ross Whiteley add 87 in 15.4 overs for the fifth wicket before the latter on 33 went for a sweep off Smith, skied the ball behind the keeper and was caught by Kieran Noema-Barnett running across from fine leg.
Clarke dominated the remainder of the innings as Ben Cox (9), Joe Leach (16) and Ed Barnard (0) were dismissed in the chase for quick runs.
Gloucestershire openers Tavare and Chris Dent batted positively and put on 106 off 17 overs.
Barnard broke the partnership by bowling Tavare for 61 and then only two runs later D'Oliveira trapped Dent lbw for 43.
But former England keeper Geraint Jones and Gareth Roderick put together another substantial partnership of 100 in 17 overs.
Barnard struck again when Roderick (56) was caught behindand then Leach picked up two wickets in successive overs.
First Jones (58) was adjudged lbw and then Benny Howell (12) was bowled by the all-rounder to leave Gloucestershire on 235-5.
Whiteley came into the attack and Jack Taylor (7) sliced a delivery into the hands of Oliver at third man before Noema-Barnett and Fuller saw the visitors to their target.
