Klinger, Taylor tons power Gloucs to fourth-innings target

Gloucestershire 364 for 6 dec (van Buuren 172*, Miles 60*, Roderick 60) and 320 for 5 (Taylor , Klinger ) beat Worcestershire 439 (Kohler-Cadmore 169, Shantry 106, Cox 75, Barnard 50) and 239 (Whiteley 71, Mitchell 55, Miles 5-54) by five wickets
Scorecard

Gloucestershire's enterprising approach was rewarded on the final afternoon as century-makers Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor powered them to a five-wicket win over Worcestershire in the County Championship clash at New Road.

The Gloucestershire captain Gareth Roderick had thrown open a game heading towards stalemate on the third day by declaring his side's first innings 75 runs in arrears. Gloucestershire then proceeded to bowl out Worcestershire for 239 and were left a target of 315 in 70 overs which they reached with more than 10 overs to spare.

With the pitch playing true and a short off-side boundary for the right-handers to target, a see-saw game finally tipped in Gloucestershire's favour as they climbed to third spot in the Division Two table.

Klinger, a former Worcestershire player, and Taylor came together in the first over after tea at 141 for 5 and proceeded to flay the home attack.

Taylor reached a brilliant hundred off 71 balls with five sixes and 11 fours and finished unbeaten on 107. Klinger completed his ton with the match-winning six off Brett D'Oliveira; he faced 141 balls and hit two sixes and 11 fours. Their stand was worth an unbroken 179 in just 24 overs.

Klinger and Taylor's main concern was the light and play was halted briefly but the players returned and the sixth-wicket pair completed their task.

Gloucestershire set out in pursuit of their target immediately after lunch and Worcestershire vice-captain Joe Leach had made the first breakthrough when Chris Dent edged to first slip. Fellow opener Roderick fell to a superb full-length catch by Alexei Kervezee at mid-off off Ed Barnard after he had ran back 20 yards from extra cover.

First innings century-maker Graeme van Buuren again looked in good touch before he was undone by a ball of extra bounce from Charlie Morris and was caught behind for 42. Then in the final over before tea, Hamish Marshall took on occasional spinner Kervezee and was caught at mid-on to leave Gloucestershire on 139 for 4 at the interval.

Worcestershire's victory hopes increased in the first over after tea when George Hankins aimed a heave across the line at Leach and was lbw. But Taylor decided counterattacking was the best option and he reached his half century off 38 balls with four sixes and five fours. He also dominated a century stand with Klinger, which came up in just 17 overs.

Heavy morning rain delayed the start but play was able to get underway at 11.30am with only the loss of eight overs. Worcestershire resumed on 151 for 5 in their second innings - a lead of 226 - and Ross Whiteley scored a typically robust 53-ball half-century but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end to Liam Norwell and Craig Miles.

Ben Cox was caught behind off Norwell and then Leach perished at deep midwicket off Miles. Miles struck twice in an over as Ed Barnard was caught at cover before a superb leg-side catch by keeper Roderick accounted for first-innings centurion Jack Shantry.

Whiteley was last out for 71 from 88 balls with four sixes and seven fours. Miles finished with 5 for 54 - his 10th five wicket haul in first class cricket - and Norwell 4 for 70.