Worcestershire lost by 48 runs in their final pre-season friendly against Gloucestershire at New Road.

Worcestershire chose to field first and made an early breakthrough as the visitors captain, Alex Gidman, was caught in the slips by Vikram Solanki off Nick Harrison for 6. Will Gidman and Chris Dent then put on a century partnership for Gloucestershire as they both took advantage of the short boundary at the Severnside part of the ground. Will Gidman was caught by James Cameron off Shaaiq Choudhry for 67 off 88 balls, with 6 4’s and 1 6, and when Jack Taylor edged behind to Ben Scott off Jack Shantry for 20 the visitors were 169-3 in the 31st over.

Despite a short interruption due to rain Gloucestershire attacked in the final few overs and although Dent was out, caught by Daryl Mitchell off Harrison for 93 off 83 balls, with 12 4’s and 1 6, both Ian Cockbain (48 no) and Dan Housego (31 no) carried that momentum and the visitors ended on 277-4 off their 40 overs. Harrison was the pick of the County’s bowlers, with 2-42 off his 8 overs, with Choudhry (1-38) and Shantry (1-66) the other bowlers to take a wicket.

Worcestershire’s reply began badly as Matt Pardoe (6), Solanki (19) and Neil Pinner (0) were all dismissed in the first 5 overs to leave them on 27-3. But Mitchell and James Cameron weren’t prepared to give up easily as they both tried to get the County back into the match. Although the score was ticking along the boundaries were becoming hard to get especially when the visitors brought the spin duo of Ed Young and Taylor into the attack.

Despite putting on 145 runs for the fourth wicket the visitors eventually dismissed both Cameron, who scored 74 off 76 balls, with 8 4’s, and Mitchell, who also scored 74 off 85 balls, with 5 4’s, and the County were 202-5 off 34 overs. David Payne (4-50) then took 3 of the last 5 wickets to fall and Worcestershire had collapsed to 229 all out in the 40th over.