Gloucestershire 148 for 8 (Charlesworth 49) Worcestershire 145 (Raza 47, Jansen 4-37) by three runs
Duan Jansen claimed 4 for 37 as Gloucestershire made it five wins from six Vitality Blast group matches with a thrilling three-run victory over Worcestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
The hosts posted 148 for 8 after winning the toss, Ben Charlesworth top-scoring with 49 off 34 balls. Experienced spinner Sikandar Raza took 1 for 19 from four overs and there were two wickets each for Tom Taylor and Matthew Waite.
In reply, Worcestershire slumped to 28 for 4, Jansen taking all the wickets, before Raza smacked 47 off 31 balls in a vain chase that ended off the final ball at 145 all out. Marchant de Lange took 2 for 21 and Jack Taylor 2 for 22.
Gloucestershire scored 51 off the initial six-over powerplay, despite losing three wickets. D'Arcy Short was bowled for a golden duck by the third ball of the match, sent down by Tom Taylor.
Joe Phillips was caught at point off Taylor and Miles Hammond bowled off an inside edge for 18 by Adam Finch the ball after depositing him over fine leg for six. Taylor's three overs in the powerplay saw him take 2 for 20.
Worcestershire then introduced spin from both ends in the shape of Usama Mir and Raza. Charlesworth greeted Mir with a straight six as Gloucestershire progressed to 76 for 3 after ten overs.
Raza conceded just four runs off his first over, while Finch bowled the ninth for only a single. Jack Taylor brought up a half-century stand with Charlesworth with a boundary off Mir, but fell in the same over for 26.
Charlesworth was dismissed one short of fifty, driving a catch to long-on off Raza to make it 103 for 5 and Gloucestershire's batting fell away in the final six overs, adding just 45 runs. Ollie Price retired out with a hand injury on 19 from 22 deliveries.
Jansen then struck twice in the third over of Worcestershire's reply, profiting from poor shots as Brett D'Oliveira and Isaac Mohammed were pouched off skyers.
The left-arm seamer claimed a third wicket in his next over, Kashif Ali clothing a catch to mid-off and had figures of 4 for 11 when Ethan Brookes was taken at short third man off an attempted scoop. Worcestershire finished the powerplay on 47 for 4.
At the halfway point of their innings, they had progressed to 77 for 4, Raza lifting Marchant de Lange for a big six over fine leg. He followed up by clearing the ropes over deep square off Matt Taylor.
Jack Taylor's leg spin accounted for Adam Hose, caught at long-off for 14 in the 12th over with the total on 87. The Gloucestershire skipper then bowled Raza with a full-length delivery to make it 100 for 6.
It proved the key moment as, despite a late flurry from former Gloucestershire player Gareth Roderick (23), Worcestershire fell just short. Eight were needed off the last over, bowled by Matt Taylor, with only one wicket left and Finch was caught off the final ball with a boundary required.
