Specsavers County Championship Div Two

Worcestershire 439 all out & 151-5

Gloucestershire 364-6

GLOUCESTERSHIRE breathed life back into a match which appeared to be heading towards stalemate by declaring 75 runs behind on day three of the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road.

The visitors caused a surprise by pulling out at lunch on 364-6 after century-maker Graeme van Buuren and Craig Miles had figured in an unbroken partnership of 134.

Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell then showed a return to form with a 57-ball half century.

But wickets fell at regular intervals and when rain halted proceedings with 24 overs remaining, Worcestershire had reached 151-5 – a lead of 226 – with the game evenly poised.

Worcestershire still harboured hopes at the start of the day of enforcing the follow on with Gloucestershire resuming on 226-5 – still requiring a further 64 to avoid that possibility.

Spinner Brett D'Oliveira trapped Jack Taylor (7) lbw in the first over of the morning. The second new ball was taken after three overs but Van Buuren, who on Monday completed his maiden county championship century, and Miles were untroubled in their partnership and scored freely.

Van Buuren continued on from his overnight 104 to make an unbeaten 172 while Miles was unbeaten on 60, two short of his career best.

Worcestershire looked to build on their lead but their progress was checked by Liam Norwell during a lively opening spell.

He trapped D'Oliveira (3) lbw and then dislodged Joe Clarke's leg bail before he had scored.

Mitchell responded by finding his touch with a fluent 50 before flicking Miles straight to Hamish Marshall at square leg.

Gloucestershire struck two more blows after tea as first innings century-maker Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18) shouldered arms and was bowled to give Norwell his third success and Alexei Kervezee holed out for 39 before the rain called a halt to day three.