WORCESTERSHIRE captain Daryl Mitchell has said his powers of concentration come naturally after scoring his fifth Championship century of the season against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
The 30-year-old made an unbeaten 167 as the Division Two leaders posted 395 all out, before the hosts crumbled to 15-4 in their reply.
Mitchell, who now has 1,207 runs this season – the highest amount in either division – also surpassed his previous best for a campaign – his 1,180 runs in 2010.
“I’ve always had these purple patches throughout my career during the individual seasons,” Mitchell said.
“I’ve just managed to maintain it this year. I think opening the batting in the T20 has helped that as well.
“It is a case of just keep going, keep trying to get as many as I can and it starts again tomorrow morning.
“I have my game plan and I just try and stick to it. I’ve probably come out of my shell a couple of times in recent weeks and it has probably cost me my wicket, a couple of big drives here and there.
“I just try and bat and play how I play. Concentration is quite a natural thing for me, I’m pretty good at that, so I don’t have to think too much about anything, just try and bat and play the situation as much as anything.
“It was probably not the most fluent innings of the year but a job well done on a decent pitch, but it was hard work at times and I thought Gloucestershire bowled pretty well.”
Richard Oliver gave another demonstration of his fluency with a sparkling 62 off 49 balls out of an opening stand of 71 with Mitchell – his third 50-plus score in five innings.
“It is Richard’s natural game and it would be wrong of us to try and stifle that really,” Mitchell added.
“He gives us a flying start and takes any scoring pressure off me at the other end if he bats for any length of time.
“I’m really pleased with him, he got another score, and hopefully he can kick on and get a hundred in the next couple of games.”
Gloucestershire were 68-7 at tea on day two.