Gloucestershire's daunting total proves beyond Worcestershire

Gloucestershire were indebted to contrasting innings from Ian Harvey and Kim Barnett as they edged out Worcestershire by 21 runs in the Benson & Hedges Cup match at Bristol.

Harvey's sparkling 92 from 64 balls was a limited-overs best for the Australian, while Barnett made an anchor role 85 from 141 deliveries in a Gloucestershire total of 263-8.

Half-centuries from Philip Weston and Anurag Singh led a spirited Worcestershire reply, but 90 were needed from the last ten overs and it proved beyond reach as they finished on 242-7.

Gloucestershire's fourth win from four games assures the holders of a place in the quarter-finals, but Worcestershire may now need to win their game with Warwickshire tomorrow to qualify.

The Gloucestershire innings was revived in dramatic fashion by Harvey and Barnett, whose parternship of 126 required only 18 overs.

Harvey dominated it with some scintillating strokeplay for the good-sized crowd to enjoy. His half-century came from 39 deliveries and he surpassed his previous best one-day score of 88, made against Sussex last year in the B&H quarter-finals.

A century was within his grasp when umpire Nigel Cowley - to Harvey's clear disappointment - upheld an appeal by wicket-keeper Steve Rhodes for a catch off David Leatherdale.

Barnett and Jeremy Snape then added 66 in quick time before both departed in the same Alamgir Sheriyar over.

Sheriyar finished wth 4-19, but Stuart Lampitt, Matthew Rawnsley and Leatherdale went for more than 50 runs in their spells.

Philip Weston and Anurag Singh gave the Worcestershire reply an excellent start with a partnership of 150 in 35 overs before the former was caught in the deep by Chris Taylor off Martyn Ball.

Singh, who had survived two chances to Snape and Barnett, finally perished to a catch by Jon Lewis at long off from the bowling of James Averis.

Worcestershire's hopes then rested with Graeme Hick, but when he chipped a catch to Snape at mid-wicket, there was no way back.