CENTURION Steve Davies helped Worcestershire rewrite the record books as their 21-run home victory dented leaders Gloucestershire’s hopes of replacing them as NatWest Pro40 champions.

Davies smashed 119 off just 87 balls with 21 fours as the Royals amassed 316-5 — their highest 40-over score and beating their previous best of 307-4 against Derbyshire at New Road in 1975.

And, fittingly, watching from the pavilion after arriving from New Zealand was Worcestershire’s legendary opening batsman Glenn Tur-ner, who is attending the Lord’s Taverners Centurions dinner with Tom Graveney and Graeme Hick in London tonight, who had top-scored for the county with 86 in that game 33 years ago.

Gloucestershire skipper Al-ex Gidman put the home side in after winning the toss and was soon left regretting his decision as the opening pair of Davies and skipper Vikram Solanki were again in explosive form.

They had plundered 181 off the Somerset attack in Thur-sday’s tied game at Taunton and this time amassed 160 in only 18 overs.

Gloucestershire’s overseas player, Australian paceman Brendon Drew, came in for particularly savage treatment and twice was hit for three boundaries in succession by Davies as he conceded 60 runs in his seven overs.

The Gladiators’ attack was powerless to stop the onslau-ght and it needed a run-out to split the Royals duo.

Solanki, having made 70 off 49 balls with three sixes and eight fours, was run out by Drew’s throw to wicketkeeper Steve Adshead attempting a third run after Davies had driven spinner Richard Dawson through cover.

Davies continued to score freely and reached his century off just 75 balls with his 19th boundary — a lofted cover drive at Dawson’s expense.

The former England ‘A’ player figured in a second-wicket partnership with Stephen Mo-ore of 73 in 10 overs before his memorable knock ended on 119 when he holed out to Jon Lewis at cover off Steve Kirby.

In all Davies struck 21 fours to take his run aggregate in the competition this season to 463 from six innings including two hundreds and three 50s.

Moore’s 46 from 48 balls and useful contributions from Ben Smith and Moeen Ali ensured Worcestershire were able to capitalise on their whirlwind start.

Gloucestershire began their reply at an even quicker rate against an attack lacking the injured pace trio of Simon Jones, Kabir Ali and Matt Mason.

Hamish Marshall and former Worcestershire batsman Kad-eer Ali put on 92 in only nine overs with on-loan Nottingha-mshire paceman AJ Harris conceding 46 runs in his first four overs.

But the writing was on the wall for the Gladiators once Chris Whelan had removed Kadeer (39) and Marshall (48) in successive overs.

Gareth Andrew returned to the attack after being hit for 13 runs in his first over to have Gidman (nine) leg before and, when spinner Gareth Batty had Mark Hardinges and David Brown caught in the deep, the game looked effectively over as a contest.

But Chris Taylor kept the home team on their toes with a fine 79 off 61 balls with two sixes and six fours before being last out in the final over from Andrew with the total on 295 giving the Royals hopes of avoiding the dreaded play-off in a fortnight’s time.

Kabir’s scan results in — see back page.