Worcestershire’s 2nd XI experienced their first defeat of the season on Tuesday, as they went down by 10 runs to Gloucestershire in the T20 central group stages.
Travelling to Brockhampton in a confident mood, after edging a thrilling contest in their first match, the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Worcestershire started the match slower of the two sides, with bowlers struggling to stamp their authority on the game as Gloucestershire flew to 62-0 inside seven overs.
The first wicket fell when Asad Azami removed Chris Dent, for a quickfire 32, and it was the youngster who struck again soon after, trapping Tommy Boorman (13) LBW with the score reading 84-2 just after the halfway point.
The visitors struggled in the face of a powerful batting display, as Gloucestershire settled in on a batter-friendly track to add a blistering 94 for the third wicket, and leave the bowlers struggling for answers towards the back end of the innings.
Adam Finch took the final wicket of the innings in the last over, but aside from Azami’s excellent spell (4-2-27-2), the attack struggled to keep the scoring down.
Chasing a stiff 187 to win, Worcestershire did not get off to the reply they were hoping for, as Ed Pollock was dismissed in the first over, for 12.
Ismail Mohammed followed soon after, and with the score at 27-2, the travelling outfit were in need of an extended partnership.
Henry Cullen (79 off 47) then produced a scintillating display of white-ball batting, as he carved the ball to all parts during a memorable innings that contained nine-fours and two-sixes.
The youngster eventually departed in the 17th over, after seeing Rehaan Edavalath (33) lose his wicket, with his side requiring 36 to win.
The task was too much for Worcestershire however, as they fell 10 runs short of their required total at the completion of the match.
Having won one and lost one in their opening two fixtures, it is all to play for the 2nd XI, when they head to Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Friday.
