BEN Cox scored a superb century - and there were sizeable contributions from Joe Leach and Alex Gidman - as Worcestershire lead Somerset by 152 runs after the second day of the LV= County Championship Division One clash at New Road.

Worcestershire were eventually bowled out for 402 in their first innings and are in a strong position having dismissed Somerset for 250 on the opening day.

The hosts will be praying for dry weather when play resumes at 11am tomorrow.

Wicket-keeper Cox reached three figures with a six off England newcomer Lewis Gregory.

It was his second Championship hundred for the county and followed on from his 104 against Hampshire at New Road last summer.

The 23-year-old was dismissed by Gregory but not before he had scored a personal best 109 from 162 balls with two sixes and 14 fours.

Leach made an impressive 95 and looked set for his second Championship ton before edging Alfonso Thomas to Marcus Trescothick at slip.

Cox and Leach’s stand was worth 168 in 40 overs and was a new record seventh-wicket partnership for the County against Somerset, surpassing two previous stands of 128 by JA Cuffe and F Chester (1913) and RG Broadbent and LF Outschoorn (1959).

It was the second new ball taken immediately after tea which sparked an all out assault by the Worcestershire duo and the next 100 runs came from just 17 overs.

Worcestershire had resumed the second day on 35-2 after 18 overs.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell was trapped lbw by a delivery that kept low from Thomas for 27 in the third over of the day.

Gidman instantly looked in good form and found a willing ally in Alexei Kervezee before Peter Trego broke the partnership after it had added 59 when he yorked Kervezee for 29 with Worcestershire at 103-4.

Worcestershire reached 133-4 at lunch but added only one more run before Ross Whiteley (11) was caught at second slip off Trego.

Gidman laid the foundations with an excellent 78 - his first half-century for his new county.

In total Gidman faced 166 deliveries, struck nine boundaries and batted for more than three-and-a-half hours.

Cox and Leach’s spectacular late onslaught propelled their side into a position of considerable strength, while Jack Shantry (4) and Sachithra Senanayake (10) departed either side of Leach’s dismissal.

Cox looked in good nick from the minute he walked to the crease and Leach’s typically aggressive innings contained 10 fours.