DIRECTOR of Cricket Steve Rhodes praised the way Worcestershire fought back from "staring down a barrel" on day two of the Specsavers County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Worcestershire picked up the last five Gloucestershire wickets for 44 runs thanks to excellent bowling by Matt Henry and Jack Shantry harnessed to some excellent fielding.

Then Moeen Ali and Brett D'Oliveira figured in a fine second wicket stand of 120 before centurion Joe Clarke and Ben Cox added an unbroken 135 for the sixth wicket.

It meant Worcestershire closed on 297-5 overnight in reply to Gloucestershire's 380.

Rhodes said: "We fought back really well. We were staring down the barrel at 330-5 overnight and two guys who were in (Hamish Marshall and Kieran Noema-Barnett).

"We challenged the boys to have a really good hour and that's what they did. I was pleased with the team effort in the field.

"Matt Henry and Jack Shantry bowled well but some of the catching was excellent and thankfully we bowled them out.

"After losing Daryl Mitchell first up, it was a great partnership by Dolly and Mo to put on 120.

"I thought it was a really special effort chasing 380 and then, with losing a couple of wickets, even more so with the two guys at the end there, Joe Clarke with a lovely 100 and Ben Cox who supported him extremely well.

"There were some good team efforts from the Worcester boys and there was some good cricket out there.

"I think Gloucestershire tried so hard. I was impressed with some of their bowling and the way they kept going.

"I enjoyed and was impressed with the battle between Joe Clarke and Josh Shaw, two young English lads who really gave it their all.

"I was really impressed with the effort levels of Shaw and the way Joe dealt with it. It was great to see two young English lads doing so well. It was a joy to watch."