Only the weather can save Gloucestershire

Worcestershire will start the final day of the Championship match at Bristol with fingers crossed for some fine Bank Holiday weather.

Only some unseasonal rain can surely stand between them and victory over a Gloucestershire side again failing miserably to match their one-day form in four-day cricket.

The home side were 35-3, chasing an unlikely target of 408, when bad light ended a third day's play that was as grey as the weather six overs early.

Andy Bichel had figures of 2-7, having sent back Tim Hancock and Matt Windows, while Alamgir Sheriyar accounted for Dominic Hewson, with none of the top three batsmen managing double figures.

Kim Barnett and Chris Taylor were only too glad to go off when offered the light. The pitch is wearing and Graeme Hick's decision not to enforce the follow-on on will prove sound enough - given good weather.

It may, however, have prolonged the game, as Gloucestershire's frail batting suggested they might have been blown away had they been put straight in again on Saturday evening.

As it was, Worcestershire resumed their second innings on 21-2 and steadily batted their opponents out of the game.

Philip Weston scored his second fifty of the game, another painstaking effort off 132 balls, while David Leatherdale (41), Bichel (37) and Steve Rhodes (32 not out) all made valuable contributions.

It was slow going most of the time as the visitors batted on until four overs after tea before declaring on 256-8.

But that won't worry Hick if his bowlers do the business on the final day.