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Worcestershire v Gloucestershire | Day Four | Rain halts Gloucestershire's pursuit of victory as visitors must settle for draw

23 April 2023

Gloucestershire were denied probable victory by the elements after ripping out the Worcestershire top order on the final day of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter at New Road.

The visitors resumed on 172-3 in their second innings and added 54 runs in 10 overs before captain Graeme van Buuren pulled out.

Worcestershire were set a 301 target in 84 overs and a mixture of testing bowling in seam-friendly conditions and some poor shot selections reduced them to 51-4 with Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira also retiring with a hand injury.

But it began raining during the lunch interval to leave Gloucestershire still searching for their first win of the season after last week’s total wash-out against Yorkshire at Bristol.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for Gloucestershire who had shown great resilience to recover from being reduced to 45-7 on the opening morning.

Tom Price had the once in a life-time performance with a maiden century and a hat-trick on the same day while Ajeet Singh Dale’s career-best 6-41 cemented their position of strength.

Worcestershire were left to reflect on failing to capitalise on their early dominance with the ball and would have been the more relieved of the two sides when play was eventually abandoned after tea.

Both sides had to be content with eight points.

Van Buuren had scored the bulk of the runs during the morning session in making an unbeaten 34 although he survived a chance to deep mid-wicket off Joe Leach.

Chris Dent, 83, was the one wicket to fall before the declaration when he top edged a catch to keeper Ben Cox off Matthew Waite.

Worcestershire opener Ed Pollock had an escape from the first ball of the innings when he was put down at gulley off Marchant de Lange.

But he failed to profit from this let-off and on three went to pull Tom Price and skied a catch to square leg.

Azhar Ali was also guilty of a reckless shot when he mistimed a hook against Tom Price and was pouched at mid on.

But there was little Jack Haynes could do about a de Lange delivery which lifted on him and flew to second slip as he collected a pair in the game.

Worcestershire Club captain, Brett D’Oliveira, was then forced to retire injured after being struck on the left fore-arm by another pacey de Lange delivery.

Opener Jake Libby made 22 before he nicked a delivery which lifted on him from Ajeet Singh Dale to gully to leave Worcestershire wobbling at lunch - and then the elements took over.

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