MICHAEL Klinger returned to haunt his former employers as he smashed a brilliant 61-ball century to lead Gloucestershire to a 48-run Friends Life t20 victory over Worcestershire at Bristol.

The Australian batsman, who was Worcestershire’s overseas player for the early part of last season, cracked five sixes and nine fours in contributing 108 to the home side’s total of 185-5 after he had won the toss.

In reply, Worcestershire could muster only 136 all out and it was their second consecutive dismal 20-over showing, following hot on the heels of Friday night’s home drubbing by Glamorgan.

Alexei Kervezee top-scored with 39 and Ben Cox, going in at number eight, added 37, while left-arm spinner Shaaiq Choudhry claimed 1-13 from his four overs.

James Fuller (3-23), David Payne (2-14) and Benny Howell (2-28) all bowled tightly for Gloucestershire.

After a steady start, opener Klinger paced his innings perfectly, accelerating to move from a half-century to his first twenty20 ton in just 27 deliveries.

His five sixes included three in the 17th over, sent down by Daryl Mitchell, which cost the Worcestershire captain 25 runs.

The first was over extra cover and the next two straight into the flats being constructed at the Ashley Down Road End.

Alex Gidman provided the best support in a fifth-wicket stand of 65 from five overs but was felled by a beamer from Chris Russell, which hit him in the chest, in the 19th over and did not field later in the game.

It was Russell’s second such delivery in the over so he was ordered out of the attack and it was completed by Gareth Andrew, who bowled Gidman with the first ball after the batsman received treatment.

Worcestershire’s reply got off to a bad start when Moeen Ali drove a catch to cover off Fuller’s fourth ball of the innings and it was 4-2 when Thilan Samaraweera skied to slip off Dan Christian.

At the end of the six overs of the powerplay, the visitors were becalmed on 35-2.

The next over saw Mitchell caught at short fine-leg off Payne to make it 39-3.

Andre Russell launched left-arm spinner Tom Smith for two big sixes, but perished leg before in the same over, and at the halfway stage Worcestershire were 60-4, needing a further 125 off 10 overs.

They never looked remotely capable of that and wickets continued to fall around Kervezee as Gloucestershire outplayed their opponents in all departments.

Cox at least hit a couple of sixes in a defiant and impressive 24-ball effort.