Tons for Moeen, Taylor dominate last day

Moeen Ali struck an unbeaten century to guide Worcestershire to a draw on the final day of their County Championship match with Gloucestershire in Bristol. The England all-rounder came to the rescue with his side in trouble at 49 for 3, chasing an unlikely 352 to win in 63 overs, hitting a fluent 136 from 144 balls in a quality knock that featured just one chance.

Earlier, Jack Taylor had lashed 13 fours and two sixes in an explosive 105, his second fifty coming off just 27 balls, to help Gloucestershire from a perilous 217 for 6 overnight to 382 for 7 declared. Chris Dent was unbeaten on 138, having shared a seventh-wicket stand of 162 with Taylor. It was Dent's second hundred of the season and took his run tally in five Championship innings to 402 at an average of 101.75.

The early loss of openers Brett D'Oliveira and Daryl Mitchell, both to Liam Norwell, left Worcestershire batting to salvage a draw but they closed on 210 for 4. Gloucestershire took 12 points from the second game at Bristol this season to be dominated by the bat and Worcestershire 13 points.

Dent and Taylor batted the home side out of trouble in the morning session, which began with them leading by only 186. The seventh-wicket pair stayed together until after lunch, overcoming the second new ball and adding 140 in attractive style.

Dent reached a rock-solid hundred off 225 balls, with 13 fours, having begun the day on 81, and never gave a semblance of a chance. But he was eclipsed by the big-hitting Taylor, who cut loose after reaching a half-century off 69 balls. He took 17 off an over from Moeen, which cost 21 runs, and a second six off the England man in the last over before lunch took him to three figures.

At lunch Taylor was unbeaten on 101, while Dent was 122 not out. The declaration came soon after the interval, Tom Kohler-Cadmore having taken an excellent diving catch over his shoulder running back at mid-on to dismiss Taylor off Ed Barnard.

Norwell then briefly raised Gloucestershire hopes of victory with a five-over opening spell from the Ashley Down Road End that saw him claim 2 for 16. The seamer bowled D'Oliveira for 4 and then clipped Mitchell's off stump on 8 as the Worcestershire captain shouldered arms to a ball that nipped back.

When first-innings centurion Joe Clarke was bowled by Josh Shaw, also for 8, Worcestershire were 49 for 3 and in a spot of bother. But Kohler-Cadmore helped steady things and Moeen looked in little trouble, his two moments of anxiety coming when he pulled a short delivery from Norwell for six, the ball just clearing Hamish Marshall at fine leg, and a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to Shaw on 54.

Having brought up his hundred from 106 balls, there was even time for Moeen to launch two big sixes in succession off Taylor in the closing overs. Sweet revenge for what had happened earlier.