Solanki and Davies propel Royals

Vikram Solanki and Steven Davies made rapid half-centuries as Worcestershire beat Gloucestershire by 13 runs in the Twenty20 Cup at Bristol.

Solanki, who won the toss, cracked 51 from 35 balls and Davies hammered 50 from 27 as the Royals posted a challenging 188 for five.

Gloucestershire were kept in the hunt by Alex Gidman (64) and Hamish Marshall (41), who put on 94 for the second wicket in 10 overs, but Worcestershire seized control in the closing overs and the Gladiators ended on 175 for seven.

It was Worcestershire's second win in four games, while Gloucestershire have lost three of their four matches.

Solanki and Davies laid the foundations for Worcestershire's success with an opening partnership of 102 in 10 overs.

No-one suffered more than Gemaal Hussain, who went for 32 in his first two overs, which included two sixes over midwicket from Davies and a straight maximum from Solanki.

Solanki also hit seven fours in his 33-ball half-century, while Davies struck four fours and three sixes in his 25-ball fifty.

Steve Kirby provided the breakthrough for Gloucestershire by bowling Solanki in the 11th over, and he was celebrating again three balls later when Davies was bowled around his legs.

Steven Davies helped lay the foundations for Worcestershire's win with a blistering 23-ball fifty

Moeen Ali departed two overs later - he drove Hussain to Craig Spearman at cover - and the scoreboard read 114 for four when Ashley Noffke was stumped off Richard Dawson.

The innings required new impetus and it was provided by Stephen Moore and Ben Smith, who added 71 in just six overs.

Moore was bowled by Vikram Banerjee in the final over, having made 33 off 27 balls, while Smith ended with five fours and a six in his unbeaten 20-ball innings of 41.

Gloucestershire's reply got off to a poor start when Grant Hodnett, making his first appearance of the season, fell to a high return catch by Chris Whelan in the first over.

Gidman was reprieved in the next over when Whelan dropped him at long-leg, and the Gloucestershire skipper prospered in an entertaining second-wicket stand with Marshall.

The home side were just start to looking favourites when Marshall was caught at long-on off Whelan, having made 41 from only 24 deliveries.

Craig Spearman departed for six to Gareth Andrew, Solanki racing to his right from extra cover and diving full length to hold a brilliant catch.

Gidman enjoyed another escape when, on 56, he was dropped by Batty on the midwicket boundary off Daryl Mitchell.

But Batty made amends in the following over, the 16th, when he held a low return catch to dismiss Gidman and reduce Gloucestershire to 136 for four.

Their hopes were all but ended in the 16th over when Mitchell had Chris Taylor caught at long-off and bowled Steve Adshead next delivery.

Jon Lewis offered a few late blows of defiance, but 32 off the last two overs was always likely to be too much to ask of the lower order. Worcestershire's win was sealed in the last over when Dawson was bowled by Ashley Noffke.