JOE Clarke made a return to form with his first century of the season for Worcestershire and then another highly rated youngster in Josh Tongue pressed home their advantage against Kent in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at New Road.

Clarke scored five Championship hundreds last summer and had firmly established himself as a member of the England Lions side for the past 18 months.

But the 21-year-old has struggled to build on several promising starts this summer until today as he oozed class in making 142 off 197 balls with 22 fours.

His efforts were largely responsible for Worcestershire obtaining a first innings lead of 76 as they were bowled out for 336 in the promotion battle despite a six-wicket haul from Matt Coles.

Then 19-year-old Tongue, who is in his first season of senior cricket, again demonstrated his potential by picking up two wickets in his initial five-over burst.

He is still a work in progress but now has 26 Championship wickets to his name and troubles batsmen with his pace and ability to extract bounce.

It left Kent ending the day on 120-3 a lead of 44.

But Worcestershire will not want to chase a substantial target in their final innings as Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah is likely to pose an increasing threat during the latter half of the game.

Clarke was aided in Worcestershire recovering from 48-3 by George Rhodes - making his first appearance of the campaign - and skipper Joe Leach.

Rhodes, occupying the number five slot previously held by the departed Tom Kohler-Cadmore, figured in a stand of 131 in 33 overs before on 45 he edged Coles to Will Gidman at second slip.

It was the only wicket to fall in the morning session but Shah quickly got to work as Ben Cox (19) and Ross Whiteley (0) were trapped lbw.

Barnard (16) was run out as Gidman deflected Clarke’s drive onto the stumps at the bowler’s end and at 240-7, Worcestershire were still 20 runs in arrears.

But not for the first time in adversity, Leach proved a willing ally as he dominated an eighth wicket stand of 90 in 17 overs.

Four boundaries in one over from Gidman steered Worcestershire into the lead and he reached his half century off 55 balls with a straight six off Joe Denly.

The stand was broken in the final ball before tea when Clarke was caught behind off Coles who then mopped up the innings by accounting for John Hastings and Tongue to finish with 6-84 from 18.4 overs.

Leach finished unbeaten on 57 and was soon at work with the ball in his first over as Daniel Bell-Drummond (0) edged through to Cox in his first over.

Tongue came into attack and Sean Dickson (12) provided Cox with another catch and then captain Sam Northeast (14) was yorked.

Denly ensured there were no more alarms for the visitors with an unbeaten 67 but there is work to do before Shah will have a realistic total to work with.