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Day Four

Morning: Tuesday dawned cool and overcast in contrast to the weekend, and resuming on 135-3, nightwatchman Josh Shaw went on the charge with a few boundaries in his 21 before he departed LBW to Josh Tongue. It was Daryl Mitchell who accounted for Ryan Higgins in the same fashion, striking him on the back leg and dismissing him for 6. The home side then dug in, with George Hankins making his half-century and Jack Taylor scoring just three runs off 53 balls before the interval, which Gloucestershire reached on 206-5, leading by 45.

Afternoon: As Gloucs looked to occupy the crease and run down the clock, the match stood poised in the balance. It was a tremendous blow, therefore, when Tongue rapped Hankins on the pad with a full-length delivery, removing the man who'd been anchoring the innings for a well-made 69. Even then, Gloucestershire continued the resistance, but as the session wore on, big Joe Leach kept a cool head and backed himself to make the difference. In the space of three overs he accounted for Gareth Roderick LBW for 9, debutant Tom Price in the same fashion for a duck, then Jack Taylor edging to second slip for 23. The last-wicket partnership piled on another 31 for Gloucs, but when Leach made it four wickets with a ball that clattered into David Payne's leg stump, the hosts were 270 all out with a lead of just 109, and that was a very satisfactory target for the Pears to contemplate over an early tea.

Evening: The openers made a steady start to the chase without being overly aggressive, knowing that early wickets could scupper us. In the end, it was an attempt to accelerate that caused the first wobble, with Daryl Mitchell bowled for 18 by Josh Shaw as he attempted to show some intent, and Jake Libby caught at backward point for 25 off the same bowler, trying to slash the ball away for four. A short rebuild followed, but over the course of the next eight overs Tom Fell looked assured as he made a run-a-ball 32, and Jack Haynes was no less impressive for his 28, including the boundary through extra cover that sealed the win with no shortage of time and wickets to spare.

Worcestershire WIN by eight wickets

The Verdict: An emphatic victory that makes the much-anticipated return of county cricket all the sweeter. Since topping Division Two nearly three years ago, Worcestershire have managed only five first-class wins from twenty-eight matches, but in this - the long-awaited sixth - there are signs that the problems of the last couple of years are on the way to being solved. If Leach, Tongue and Morris stay fit, twenty wickets each weekend are no obstacle; and the arrival of Jake Libby alongside the extra year's experience for Jack Haynes might well have shored up the top order. With 22 points from this opening fixture, the Pears sit top of the Central Group, and will have the chance to build on their perfect start with a welcome return to New Road hosting Glamorgan at the weekend.