WORCESTERSHIRE avenged their 48-run defeat at rivals Gloucestershire to secure the maiden win of their 2013 Friends Life t20 campaign at the third time of asking.

A superb home bowling display on a slow and low New Road pitch saw the visiting batsmen going downhill faster than the infamous piece of cheese that is chased down Cooper’s Hill each year.

Gloucester could only muster a below-par 119-9 off their 20 overs and Alexei Kervezee’s unbeaten 42 led Worcestershire to a comfortable five-wicket victory with five overs to spare.

The County lost Thilan Samaraweera lbw first ball to James Fuller, but Moeen Ali and Kervezee scored well in the powerplay to put on 41 inside five overs. However, a superb catch on the boundary by Benny Howell accounted for in-form Moeen and captain Daryl Mitchell was soon bowled by part-time off-spinner Chris Dent.

A lazy piece of running just as his innings was showing promise saw Andre Russell (18) run-out by wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick’s direct hit as he ambled back without grounding his bat, while Gareth Andrew added just two.

At 93-5, Worcestershire’s response was stumbling, but Kervezee and Ben Cox (17no) put together a partnership of 27, with the former launching a huge six to bring up the winning runs in some style.

Earlier, former County overseas batsman Michael Klinger and Hamish Marshall made a lively start for the visitors, but a Jack Shantry double-wicket maiden shifted the momentum.

Shantry’s deceptive pace forced a leading edge from Klinger to Andrew at short mid-wicket, before he produced a delightful leg-cutter first up to Dent, who feathered it behind to Cox to make it 27-2. Moeen put down a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Ian Cockbain, but kept his cool to remove dangerman Marshall (23).

Brett D’Oliveira continued the theme of bowlers striking in their first over, but it was the skipper’s invention to thank as Mitchell put himself in at slip and Cockbain obliged next ball by chopping straight to him.

Moeen struck again to claim the key wicket of Aussie overseas batsman Dan Christian, finding his outside edge and Cox completing the formalities to make it 75-5.

That became 75-6 as Mitchell struck with his first ball to account for his opposite number Alex Gidman lbw for seven.

A mix-up between Howell and Fuller saw the latter run-out by a combination of Cox and Moeen for three.

A superbly-judged catch on the mid-wicket fence by Kervezee gave Mitchell his second wicket as Howell went for 10.

Mitchell had Gareth Roderick caught by Andrew at long-on with the last ball of his four-over spell to complete fine figures of 3-21.