SKIPPER Daryl Mitchell led Worcestershire's chase for quick runs after Gloucestershire declared 75 behind on day three of the County Championship Division Two match at New Road.

The visitors ended at lunch on 364-6 in reply to 439 all out after Graeme van Buuren (172 not out) and Craig Miles (60) shared an unbroken stand of 134 in 33.1 overs.

In trying to set up their own declaration, Mitchell went to a rapid half-century off 57 balls with five fours before his dismissal.

The County reached 151-5 from 38 overs for an advantage of 226 when rain halted play.

Gloucestershire resumed on 226-5 and still needing 64 to avoid the possibility of following on.

But van Buuren and Miles steered them past the 300 mark in relatively untroubled fashion.

Spinner Brett D'Oliveira broke through in the first over of the morning when he trapped Jack Taylor (6) lbw.

However, van Buuren and Miles scored freely after the new ball was taken at 236-6 from 81 overs.

A drive for four by Miles off Jack Shantry steered the visitors past the 290 follow-on total and van Buuren completed his 150 off 284 balls with his 18th boundary.

The 300 came up in the 102nd over.

When Worcestershire batted for a second time, Liam Norwell accounted for D'Oliveira (3) lbw after he had played back.

Norwell then bowled Joe Clarke for a two-ball duck as he looked to work the ball through mid-wicket.

Alexei Kervezee got off the mark with a straight drive for four but was dropped twice.

Mitchell scored aggressively in completing his second Championship half-century of the season.

But, after making 55, he departed when flicking Miles off his legs into the hands of Hamish Marshall at square leg.

First innings century-maker Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18) shouldered arms and was bowled by Norwell on his return to the attack after tea.

Kervezee made 39 before lofting spinner Taylor into the hands of Michael Klinger at mid-on.

Spin was employed at both ends in murky light and there was time for Ross Whiteley (20 not out) to hit sixes off van Buuren and Taylor before rain intervened.