Worcestershire 267 (D’Oliveira 83, Kishore 4-76) and 281 for 2 (Lategan 144, Libby 107*) beat Gloucestershire 150 and 395 for 7 dec (Bracey 127, Price 77, Hammond 58) by eight wickets

But it was 20-year-old Lategan who stole the show in only his twelfth Championship appearance, the elegant South African left-hander scoring 144 via 163 deliveries and striking 17 fours and 5 sixes, four of the latter coming at the expense of India spinner Sai Kishore.

James Bracey had earlier scored a battling 127 and staged a partnership of 102 with Ollie Price, who mustered 77, to propel Gloucestershire to 395-7 declared and set-up an exciting finale to the Festival. Worcestershire took 20 points, with bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire claiming three as they slipped to an eighth defeat in nine matches.

Worcestershire’s hopes of controlling the game were invested in the new ball, which was taken in the second over of the day. But the pitch was by now, in large part, unresponsive to seam and Gloucestershire’s batters continued to call the shots, Bracey going to 50 from 63 balls as the overnight lead of 131 was extended apace.

At last able to drive down the ground without jeopardy, Price played his part in staging a hundred partnership in 22 overs to effect a momentum shift. By the time he was bowled by Ben Allison, he had harvested seven boundaries.
Having opened up an end, Allison then snaffled a chance in the slip cordon as Tom Taylor accounted for Tommy Boorman cheaply, while Daz Ahmed skied a catch behind off Beyers Swanepoel with the score 310-6, Worcestershire reimposing pressure on the Gloucestershire batting.

His priorities clearly defined following the fall of three quick wickets, the watchful Bracey went to his nineteenth first class hundred and his third of the season from 128 deliveries, dominating a stand of 70 with Ed Middleton to usher his side to safety. Swanepoel bowled Bracey to finish with 4 for 49 from 22 overs and the declaration came shortly after lunch.

Kishore took the new ball and created pressure immediately, Lategan edging the first delivery to short leg, where Boorman put down a sharp chance. If the experienced slow left-armer was difficult to score against, the seamers presented an opportunity, Lategan and Libby raising 50 in 12 overs to afford the chase solid foundations.

Growing in stature and confidence, Lategan drove Kishore for a huge six over wide long-on to bring-up a 48-ball half century, his duel with spin luring Festival devotees from the marquees to watch the drama unfold. Content to play a supporting role, Libby contributed 35 to an opening stand of 100 inside 20 overs as Worcestershire reached tea on 110 without loss.

Required to score a further 169 off a minimum 37 overs in the final session with all wickets standing, the visitors were in the driving seat, an impression confirmed when Libby went to 50 from 82 balls.

Spinners Price, Middleton and Kishore bowled tidily after tea to force the required rate above five, but Lategan surpassed his previous highest score of 89, made at Derby in April, and pulled Price to the boundary to register his maiden first class hundred via 132 deliveries and keep the chase on track.

By the time Libby chopped a delivery from Miles Hammond down to the third man boundary to raise his hundred from 136 balls, Worcestershire were almost home and dry.