Holders bounce back

Averis (left) celebrates as another wicket falls

Glous bt Worcs by five runs

Holders Gloucestershire took advantage of their NatWest Trophy reprieve to edge out Worcestershire by five runs in a replayed third-round encounter at New Road.

Worcestershire had won the initial contest by three wickets two weeks ago, but the England and Wales Cricket Board ruled they had fielded an ineligible player in 19-year-old paceman Kabir Ali.

The initial signs were also promising in the return for Graeme Hick's side as they bowled Gloucestershire out for 163 thanks in the main to another fine bowling display from Glenn McGrath.

But Gloucestershire had their own star performer in paceman James Averis, who picked up the prized wickets of Hick and Vikram Solanki on his way to a four-wicket haul.

Beaten

Worcestershire looked beaten at 141 for nine. But a gallant effort from Steve Rhodes (43) took the game into the final over before he was bowled by Martyn Ball with three balls remaining.

Cawdron (centre) gets in on the act

Now the west country side will go straight into a fourth-round meeting with Leicestershire at Grace Road on Wednesday.

Gloucestershire needed to make early inroads if they were to defend their small total, and Ian Harvey broke through in his first over when Elliott Wilson aimed an expansive drive and lost his off stump.

Hick, fresh from England's memorable Test triumph over the West Indies, looked in good form - and two boundaries off opening paceman Michael Smith helped him race on to 23.

But the introduction of Averis helped to firmly turn the game in Gloucestershire's favour during a deadly spell of 6-1-18-3.

Removed

The 26-year-old paceman removed Hick, Solanki and then the in-form David Leatherdale.

Worcestershire got the target down to 47 off the final 10 overs, but then Paul Pollard was run out for 54 attempting a risky second run.

Russell loses his wicket

When Stuart Lampitt went lbw for three, Gloucestershire moved in for the kill, with Duncan Catterall and Matthew Rawnsley falling cheaply.

Steve Rhodes kept them waiting for victory but it proved all in vain.

Gloucestershire had been bowled out for 163 in 49.3 overs after their acting captain Jack Russell chose to bat.

McGrath, the newly-crowned International Cricketer Of The Year, finished with four for 23 and gave Worcestershire the ideal start when he trapped Rob Cunliffe lbw with the fourth delivery of the day.

Scorecard

Gloucestershire innings:

R Cunliffe lbw b McGrath 0
K Barnett c Hick b Leatherdale 26
J Russell b Lampitt 8
M Windows c Pollard b Lampitt 20
I Harvey c Rhodes b McGrath 32
C Taylor c Pollard b McGrath 1
J Snape run out 12
M Ball lbw b Leatherdale 19
M Cawdron b McGrath 17
J Averis c McGrath b Catterall 12
M Smith not out 2

Extras (7lb, 5w, 2nb) 14
Total (all out, 49.3 overs) 163

Fall: 1-0 2-41 3-43 4-85 5-87 6-102 7-121 8-142 9-161

Bowling: McGrath 10-3-23-4, Catterall 9.3-1-40-1, Lampitt 10-1-25-2, Leatherdale 10-1-42-2, Rawnsley 10-0-26-0.

Worcestershire innings:

P R Pollard run out 55
E J Wilson b Harvey 0
G A Hick c Ball b Averis 23
V S Solanki c Barnett b Averis 0
D A Leatherdale c Russell b Averis 5
R C Driver c Russell b Cawdron 0
S J Rhodes b Ball 43
S R Lampitt lbw b Smith 3
D N Catterall c Ball b Barnett 1
M J Rawnsley lbw b Averis 5
G D McGrath not out 1

Extras (lb6, w16) 22
Total (all out, 49.3 overs) 158

Fall: 1-3 2-33 3-39 4-57 5-61 6-122 7-131 8-134 9-141

Bowling: Harvey 10-5-15-1, Smith 10-0-29-1, Averis 10-1-36-4, Cawdron 10-1-27-1, Barnett 5-0-27-1, Ball 4.3-0-18-1.