MATT Henry grabbed three late wickets to raise Worcestershire’s victory hopes in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Gloucestershire lead by 186 runs with four second-innings wickets remaining, meaning an exciting final day’s play is in store tomorrow if the weather holds.

New Zealand ace Henry (3-60) clean-bowled Hamish Marshall (17), George Hankins (5), and Kieran Noema-Barnett (0) to leave Gloucestershire 217-6.

Joe Leach had earlier claimed two wickets in an over.

Ed Barnard made the first breakthrough when Cameron Bancroft (29) was caught behind by Ben Cox with 49 on the board.

Then Leach sent back Ian Cockbain (67) and Gareth Roderick (0) in the space of four balls.

Cockbain fell to a fine reflex return catch by the Worcestershire vice-captain who trapped Roderick lbw to leave Gloucestershire on 157-3 at that juncture.

Previously, Joe Clarke scored a career-best 135 as Worcestershire secured maximum batting points.

Clarke’s efforts helped Worcestershire earn a first-innings advantage of 31 in reaching 411 all out.

Cox, Henry and Jack Shantry also made useful contributions with the bat during the morning session as the County edged past Gloucestershire’s first-innings total of 380.

Worcestershire resumed on 297-5 with Clarke on 103 and Cox 59 and there was a bizarre start to the day.

Noema-Barnett bowled the first delivery to Cox whose bat broke into two when playing a defensive stroke.

Clarke, on 106, was dropped in the covers off Noema-Barnett and the new ball was immediately taken when due with the total at 310-5 after 80 overs.

As with the Worcestershire bowlers on the second morning, the new ball brought a stream of wickets.

Cox, after making a fine 69 from 132 balls with 11 fours, was caught behind off Liam Norwell to end a stand of 155 in 42 overs with Clarke.

In the next over, Leach shouldered arms to the first ball he received from David Payne and was bowled for nought.

Barnard (9) then edged Norwell to second slip to leave Worcestershire on 331-8.

Clarke was well supported by Henry and the pair added 39 for the ninth wicket before Clarke’s fine knock eventually ended.

He was bowled by Norwell after striking 17 fours.

Henry and number 11 Shantry added 41 for the 10th wicket to take the County past the 400-mark. Shantry was out for 13 to leave Henry unbeaten on 42.