WORCESTERSHIRE were in a strong position to open their Frizzell County Championship Division Two campaign on a winning note against Gloucestershire at New Road today.

Gloucestershire, facing a tough victory target of 361, resumed this morning on 15-1.

They suffered a blow with news that batsman Tim Hancock will take no further part in the match after suffering a broken hand while fielding yesterday.

Australian pace ace Andy Bichel had helped put the County into a strong position by claiming a superb career-best haul of 9-93.

He was in deadly form to help the County gain a healthy first innings lead of 65 yesterday.

Skipper Graeme Hick's men were then dismissed in their second knock for 295, leaving Gloucestershire to face just eight overs before the close when the score stood at 15-1.

Earlier Bichel had played a massive role in helping to dismiss the visitors for 268. He began the third day of the match with five wickets to his credit and quickly added four more scalps for the cost of just 11 runs yesterday.

It was the best return by a Worcestershire bowler since paceman Neal Radford claimed 9-70 against Somerset at New Road in 1986.

Bichel said: "After Ben Smith had laid a good platform in our first innings it was important we capitalised with a good bowling performance and to get nine wickets is unbelievable."

Hick made the most of Worcestershire's first innings lead by pushing the County towards a winning position.

He looked to be heading for the 119th first-class century of his career until being trapped leg before by paceman Jon Lewis, who took 6-54 to finish with a highly impressive match bag of 12-131.

Hick cracked one six and 12 fours off 111 balls before Worcestershire's tally was topped up by an eighth-wicket partnership of 75 in 18 overs between David Leatherdale and Steve Rhodes.

Wicketkeeper Rhodes made 31, including six fours off 54 balls, with Leatherdale being undefeated with 49 containing six fours.

Earlier there had been useful contributions by newcomer Stephen Peters (26) and Bichel who stroked 27 off 21 deliveries.

When Gloucestershire began their victory chase Bichel quickly collected his tenth wicket of the match, removing Jack Russell for a 'duck' thanks to a catch at fourth slip by Peters.

Craig Spearman, a century-maker in the visitors' first innings, and nightwatchman Ian Fisher survived the early overs when they resumed today, taking the score to 23-1 after 15 overs.