CONTRASTING half-centuries from captain Ben Smith and all-rounder Andrew Hall gave leaders Worcestershire control of their clash with Gloucestershire.

Smith's patient 92 from 236 deliveries and South African Hall's 73 from 117 balls took Worcestershire to 392-7 by last night's close of the second day and gave the County a first innings advantage of 121 runs.

Smith shared in stands of 83 with Vikram Solanki and 106 with Hall to raise Worcestershire's hopes of achieving their sixth championship victory of the season.

James Averis had taken three wickets for 67 runs for the hosts and Pakistan off-spinner Shoaib Malik also impressed -- ending the day with 2-49 from 30 overs.

Worcestershire began the day on 48-1 and the hosts brought themselves back into the game with three wickets in the opening hour's play.

Nightwatchman Gareth Batty had advanced to 24 when he miscued a pull at Mark Hardinges and Averis took the catch at mid-off.

Malik, a short-term overseas re-placement for Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey, then struck twice in his second and third overs. Former England batsman Graeme Hick, in his first innings since he broke a hand six weeks ago, departed for nine.

Malik then bowled Anurag Singh after the opening batsman had taken his overnight score of 22 on to 50.

Vikram Solanki had several anxious moments against Malik early in his innings. But he survived them and had moved on to 35 when Averis trapped him leg before.

Hall was quickly into his stride and he took four boundaries in one over from Hardinges, with two struck through the covers, one through mid-wicket and the other behind square.

He progressed to his half-century with with a pulled four to long-on and then Smith brought up his fifty with a straight-driven boundary off Ball.

Gloucestershire finally made another breakthrough when Averis nipped one back to have Hall lbw.

Thirteen overs later, Smith's fine innings, which included 15 fours, ended when he flicked a legside catch to wicketkeeper Stephen Pope.

Steven Rhodes and Kabir Ali continued the good work for Worcestershire with an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 48. But rain prevented a prompt resumption today.