WORCESTERSHIRE’S promotion hopes suffered a setback after they crashed to a five-wicket defeat against Gloucestershire at New Road in Specsavers County Championship Division Two.

A match-winning unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 179 between Jack Taylor (107 not out) and Michael Klinger (102no) swept the visitors to a remarkable victory with 10.2 overs to spare.

Needing 315 runs to win in their second innings, Gloucestershire looked in trouble at 141-5 after losing a few quick wickets.

But former Worcestershire batsman Klinger and Taylor were brutal against wayward County bowling.

After a brief stoppage due to bad light with 30 runs needed for victory, the pair returned to complete the job, sentencing the hosts to their first defeat of the campaign.

Gloucestershire, perhaps, deserved fortune after their declaration at lunch on the third day opened up the possibility of a positive result.

But it was a bitterly disappointing post-lunch display from Daryl Mitchell’s men, who had started the final day on 151-5 for a lead of 226.

After a delayed start due to rain, Ross Whiteley (71) played a measured innings but the County paid the price for being too carefree with the bat in the pre-lunch session.

Wicketkeeper Ben Cox (18) was the first wicket to fall, caught by Gareth Roderick off Norwell with the total at 196.

Joe Leach (4) carved a short ball into the hands of Graeme van Buuren off Craig Miles before Whiteley reached his half-century off 53 balls with a cut through backward point.

Ed Barnard (7) drove Miles to George Hankins at cover as the County slipped to 215-8 and Jack Shantry was dismissed second ball for a duck, brilliantly caught down the leg side by the sprawling Roderick off Miles.

Whiteley was eventually caught at long off by David Payne off Miles on lunch as the hosts were shot out for 239 after losing their last five wickets for 43 runs. Miles finished with 5-54 and Norwell 4-70.

Needing 315 to win from 70 overs, Gloucestershire lost Chris Dent (5), caught at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off the bowling of Leach.

The dangerous Roderick cracked a flurry of boundaries before he was superbly caught by the running Alexei Kervezee for 30 off Barnard with the total at 60.

Charlie Morris then removed van Buuren (42) with 109 on the board, caught by Cox.

Mitchell introduced Kervezee and he dismissed Hamish Marshall for 10, caught at mid-off by Barnard.

Gloucestershire were on 139-4 at tea and Leach broke through in the first over after the break, dismissing Hankins (1).

Taylor hammered two short balls from Brett D’Oliveira for sixes and then plundered Shantry into the members’ pavilion to reignite the run-chase.

He hit three fours off Barnard’s over to bring up the 100-run sixth-wicket partnership in just 17 overs as the visitors turned the screw.

The main concern for them was the fading light rather than Worcestershire’s attack.

When play resumed after a brief stoppage, the momentum was with the away batsmen.

Taylor completed his century in 71 balls, hammering a six over mid-wicket off Morris and Klinger brought up his century, securing Gloucestershire’s triumph, with a six off D’Oliveira.