Worcestershire v Gloucestershire: Roderick cannot stop home win

Worcestershire claimed a second straight 10-wicket County Championship victory as they finally broke down Gloucestershire resistance at New Road.

Resuming at 87-5, still needing 136 to make the home side bat again, it looked like a innings defeat was on the cards.

But South African-born Gareth Roderick hit a defiant unbeaten 79, sharing a 99-run eighth-wicket stand with fellow South African James Fuller.

Chris Russell got the last two scalps as the visitors were removed for 254.

Russell (3-47), Andrew, who also claimed two of the five wickets to fall for figures of 3-79, and Alan Richardson, who got the first wicket of the day for figures of 4-70 and a match haul of 12-107, were the key Worcestershire bowlers.

Worcestershire's first Championship home win since September 2011, coming on top of last Saturday's 10-wicket two-day win against Kent at Canterbury, lifts them to third in the Division Two table.

Veteran Richardson's latest scalp, to round off his second 10-wicket haul in successive matches, took his tally to 24 first-class victims in nine days.

He has taken more wickets so far this summer (30 in six matches) than he has first-class runs (17 in six innings).

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Worcestershire coach Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"Full credit to Gloucestershire, especially [Gareth] Roderick, as they made us work very, very hard on what became a flat patch.

"It's a good sign that we could dig in and find ways to get them out and I was really impressed at how strongly Chris Russell came back to finish off the tail.

"Alan Richardson, what can I say about him? He moves the ball both ways at will and that is extremely difficult to bat against - I'm just grateful he is playing for Worcestershire.

"He's 38 years old and is still one of the fittest players on our staff so I don't see why he can't be around for a good few years yet."

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Bob Hunt:

"Gareth Roderick batted superbly and alongside James Fuller gave the top-order batsmen a lesson in concentration and discipline.

"Although the rearguard action on the final day was impressive, this should not disguise Gloucestershire's all round performance.

"On the first three days, they were simply sub-standard."

Match scorecard