Thrilling victory puts county in promotion frame

» RYAN Higgins claimed four wickets as Gloucestershire moved into the Second Division promotion places with a nerve-jangling 13-run victory over Worcestershire.

Set 246 to win, the visitors looked on course at 229 for seven before Higgins struck twice in quick succession for an heroic Gloucestershire seam attack, deprived of Matt Taylor by injury.

Taylor suffered a side strain bowling late on day two and faces the prospect of being sidelined for some time.

“We must wait for the injury to settle down before determining how serious it is,” head coach Richard Dawson said.

Without him, Higgins finished with four for 64 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 232, despite an impressive contribution from Callum Ferguson (63), while Riki Wessels and Ben Cox both made 42.

A gripping final day began with the hosts looking to add to a disappointing second innings total of 149 for eight, 210 in front, and take some time out of the game.

Ninth-wicket pair David Payne and Ethan Bamber took their stand to 40, adding 34 as Worcestershire surprisingly opted to open with the leg spin of Brett D’oliveira from the Chapel End.

Adam Finch had the injured Taylor caught behind to end the innings at 184.

Worcestershire’s chase got off to the worst possible start when Daryl Mitchell edged the first ball from Payne to wicketkeeper James Bracey.

Wessels took charge of a second-wicket partnership of 73 with Ferguson, making a positive 42 off 44 balls.

But on the stroke of lunch, Wessels took one chance too many and was caught behind attempting to cut left-arm spinner Tom Smith.

The afternoon session saw Barnard give Bracey a third catch, wafting at a short ball from Higgins.

When Higgins had Ross Whiteley lbw for a duck, Worcestershire were 100 for four and the game was in the balance.

The cool head of Ferguson then took control, supported by Cox in a partnership of 81 in 28 overs.

He and Cox had taken the score to 146 for four at tea and added a further 35 before Cox blotted his copybook by driving a catch to mid-on off Bamber.

Higgins, Bamber and Payne, supported by Smith and Benny Howell, stuck to their task valiantly. When Cox was dismissed, 65 runs were still needed.

It was Howell, who ended Ferguson’s resistance on 189, finding an outside edge through to Bracey, standing up to the stumps.

Howell had taken two for two in three overs from the College Lawn End when D’oliveira was pouched at slip by substitute fielder George Hankins with 48 needed.

Leach and Parnell looked to be closing in on victory when Higgins struck twice in an over, bowling Parnell and Dillon Pennington, with 17 required.

Leach then edged Higgins just short of Bracey and amid almost unbearable tension the game ended when Adam Finch looked to pull a short ball from Payne and only succeeded in getting a top edge to Hankins at second slip.

Head coach Dawson lived every ball of the final hour from the press balcony and said: “The last few years at Cheltenham have been exciting, but nothing to match what we have seen over the past two weeks.

“This was exhausting, physically, mentally and emotionally, but worth all that to get the result. I thought there was some good captaincy and some terrific bowling, which we needed to produce being a bowler light.

“I don’t look at the table much because every time I do a lot has changed with everything is so tight.

“It will be great to go