Worcestershire need to defeat Leicestershire at Grace Road tomorrow to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Royal London One-Day Cup after going down to Gloucestershire by five wickets at New Road.
Skipper Daryl Mitchell's side have to overcome the Foxes in their final game and then see how other results pan out during the next week with several other teams also still in contention to book a last eight spot.
Fine innings from Tom Fell and Alexei Kervezee were largely responsible for Worcestershire setting Gloucestershire an initial 230 target which was reduced to 214 in 41 overs after two rain breaks.
But a career best List A score of 98 not out from Ian Cockbain helped to clinch victory for Gloucestershire with 2.5 overs to spare despite Worcestershire opening bowlers Mitchell McClenaghan and Jack Shantry returning combined figures of 5-78 from their 17 overs.
Fell achieved a career best List A score of 89 beating his previous highest tally of 74 against Lancashire at the weekend on the same ground.
Kervezee's 80 was his highest one-day score since June 20 last year. But there were a flurry of wickets in the final stages of the innings as Worcestershire were bowled out for 229 in 49 overs.
Worcestershire were put into bat and skipper Daryl Mitchell was bowled via the inside edge for two in David Payne's second over.
It became 12-2 in the fourth over when Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who had replaced Richard Oliver as opener, was run out for nine by Jack Taylor's direct hit from mid on after attempting a single off Will Gidman.
Fell and Kervezee then featured in the major partnership of the innings in adding 159 in 31 overs for the third wicket.
The duo took time to play themselves in on a wicket where it was a neccesity to graft for runs and Worcestershire stood on 26-2 at the end of the mandatory 10 over powerplay.
But they gradually increased the scoring rate with Fell first to his half century off 58 balls with eight fours.
The 100 partnership came up in 20 overs and then a lofted drive for four off Jack Taylor enabled Kervezee to complete his 50 off 66 balls with five boundaries.
Worcestershire opted to take their second powerplay at 135-2 off 30 overs. Kervezee top edged Craig Miles for six over but was caught behind off an under edge from the next bowler from the same bowler for 80 made off 87 balls with one six and eight fours.
Worcestershire were then 171-3 in the 35th over but struggled to build on their promising position during the final part of their innings.
Ross Whiteley hammered a straight six off Taylor before being caught on the mid wicket boundary off Will Gidman for 12.
Fell's fine innings ended on 89 when he drilled Taylor into the hands of long-off. His knock spanned 112 balls and contained 10 fours.
Gareth Andrew (7) turned Will Gidman around the corner straight to short fine leg and Ben Cox (9) was bowled by Payne after hitting the previous ball over mid wicket for six.
Shantry (2) was bowled after aiming to hit Will Gidman over mid-wicket, McClenaghan (1) departed in the same manner and Charlie Morris (4) was caught behind off Craig Miles.
McClenaghan took the new ball and struck twice in his second over with Michael Klinger (1) and Chris Dent (4) both caught behind by Cox.
It became 10-3 when Hamish Marshall (4) was caught off a mistimed pull by Fell.
Gloucestershire slowly rebuilt their innings with Cockbain and Gareth Roderick adding 64 in 12 overs for the fourth wicket.
Shantry claimed his second wicket when Roderick (28) was bowled by a delivery which kept low.
Cockbain produced several impressive drives and reached his half century out of 108-4 off 63 balls with eight boundaries.
Mitchell rang the changes but Cockbain found another able ally in Will Gidman. The pair added 76 in 13 overs before the returning McClenaghan had Gidman (44) caught hooking a short ball by Fell on the square leg boundary at 150-5 in the 28th over.
It was Worcestershire's last success as Cockbain and Alex Gidman shared an unbroken stand of 66 in 11 overs.
