DIRECTOR of cricket Steve Rhodes and assistant coach Matt Mason paid tribute to Worcestershire batting heroics of Jack Shantry after his century against Gloucestershire in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two at New Road.

Shantry reached the second first-class hundred of his career batting at number 10 compared to being one place higher when he reached three figures against Surrrey two years ago.

It helped to enable the County to recover from 34-5 to reach 439 all out.

Rhodes said: "An amazing turnaround. The two partnerships, Ben Cox with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Ed Barnard with Tom, were excellent.

"Once you've got that sort of platform, Jack is a very dangerous player and down the order if he gets his confidence up, he is a very sweet striker of the ball.

"He maximised getting his eye in and he did what he did against Surrey which is get a hundred.

"The one thing about Jack is he is a fierce competitor. He really does compete hard and, if he can get his runs, then he takes them. It was very good striking.

"There were some good shots and he managed to hit gaps which is always useful.

"He has given us momentum but we shouldn't forget the innings Tom Kohler-Cadmore played in setting everything up.

"It was icing on the cake from the guys down the order and particularly Jack."

Mason, who is also the County's bowling coach, said: "It was an amazing innings. He is just an incredible cricketer and a real competitor.

"We've seen that sort of thing from him before, famously in the game against Surrey a couple of years ago when he got 10 wickets in the match and a hundred.

"That was pretty special and the way he marshalled those last couple of partnerships was real quality.

"What a terrific competitor and player he is for Worcestershire and I love watching him play.

"He gives 100% for the lads and the team and he is so determined. He believes on his day he can do anything and often he does it with performances like that.

"He is a great entertainer and very popular with the members. It was great to see."