WORCESTERSHIRE grabbed a lifeline in their battle to avoid relegation from totesport League Division One with a comfortable win against Lancashire at Old Trafford last night.

Inspired by a whirlwind half-century from Chris Gayle on his County debut, the Royals reached a victory target of 196 with four wickets and almost six overs to spare -- taking them off the foot of the table.

They are now only four points behind Lancashire, who are also facing a battle against the drop after their third one-day defeat this week.

That was despite Stuart Law's highest totesport score of the season and a superb bowling spell by Glen Chapple in the day-night match.

Law made 82 from 86 balls with 10 fours and a six after Lancashire won the toss and chose to bat.

But he received little support, with even Andrew Symonds suffering a rare failure, as the Royals' spinners Ray Price and Gareth Batty bowled mean spells.

Price conceded only 32 runs in his nine overs and Batty claimed 2-34, taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Lancashire captain Mark Chilton.

Then Batty had Law stumped by England Under 19s international Steven Davies at the second attempt.

That left Lightning on 133-5 but Chapple and Kyle Hogg seemed to have put them back on course with a sixth-wicket stand of 44 inside eight overs.

Chapple was then run out for 29 by Worcestershire's captain Vikram Solanki, the first of four wickets to tumble for nine runs, two of them to Gayle.

The West Indies all-rounder then smashed 53 from 41 balls to give the Royals' reply a flying start.

Chapple hit back for Lancashire by bowling Gayle, then having Stephen Moore and Graeme Hick caught behind in a spell of 3-15 from seven overs.

He ended with 4-23 but Solanki and Ben Smith steadied the Royals' nerves with a fourth-wicket stand of 56.

Despite two wickets for James Anderson, Davies steered Worcestershire home with Kabir Ali.

Lancashire and Worcestershire contest a County Championship Division Two clash at Old Trafford from today.