ASSISTANT coach Matt Mason was frustrated Worcestershire did not “finish off” Gloucestershire as they ended the opening day on 343-8.

The County had reduced the hosts to 87-4 at lunch in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash.

But they lacked a clinical edge as Jack Taylor, who was dropped by Joe Clarke with the score on 147-5, went on to hit his fifth first-class century.

“At 80-odd for four after the first session we were happy,” Mason said.

“We wanted to bowl first on the wicket because it was a bit greener than pitches usually are here.

“It looked a good decision at lunch, but after that the wicket settled down and they batted pretty well.

“There was frustration in getting them seven down and not being clinical enough to finish off the job.”

Ed Barnard was the pick of the Worcestershire attack with 4-67.

Skipper Joe Leach exercised his right to field and then struck with his opening delivery as Cameron Bancroft was lbw.

Will Tavare got the scoreboard ticking with an early six over square-leg off John Hastings and added 53 with Chris Dent before being well caught by wicketkeeper Ben Cox, edging a defensive shot off Leach.

Gareth Roderick had made only 11 when totally miscuing an attempted hit through leg side and offering a simple catch to point to give Barnard his first wicket with the total on 79.

And Gloucestershire looked in trouble when off-spinner George Rhodes struck in his opening over, Cox taking the catch as Graeme van Buuren edged an attempted cut.

The afternoon session saw the home side fight back. Dent, who reached his fifty off 103 balls with six fours, went with the score on 129, lbw to a ball from Barnard that appeared to keep a bit low.

If there was a pivotal moment, it came with the Gloucestershire total on 147-5.

Taylor, who had survived a couple of edges, was dropped at third slip by Clarke off Josh Tongue, the catch arriving at a comfortable height.

Taylor responded to his reprieve with a straight six off Rhodes and went to a 51-ball half-century as he and Mustard took the score to 221-5 at tea.

Mustard followed to 50 having faced 125 balls, but was out in the same over, bowled driving at Barnard.

When Kieran Noema-Barnett was caught behind off Tongue for a duck it was 234-7 and Worcestershire appeared to have regained control.

But Craig Miles then joined Taylor and batted with increasing confidence.

Taylor went to his hundred with his 14th four, while Miles grew sufficiently in stature to pull Hastings for six, with the partnership blossoming.

It was worth 89 in 20.3 overs when Barnard returned at the College Lawn End to have Miles caught behind with the second ball of a new spell. But Taylor remained unmoved.