GLOUCESTERSHIRE claimed their first Twenty20 Cup win of the season with a nine-wicket success against Worcestershire in atrocious conditions at Bristol.

After the match had been reduced to 10 overs per side, the home side won the toss and Graeme Hick top scored with 32 in a Worcestershire total of 101-7.

There were two wickets each for Mark Hardinges, Anthony Ireland and Ian Fisher.

As wind and rain lashed the ground, Gloucestershire replied with 103-1 to win with seven balls to spare.

Alex Gidman hit 34 and Hamish Marshall 28 before being forced to retire hurt having hit a ball on to his knee.

The real heroes of the day were the Gloucestershire ground staff, who managed to get the game on even though the playing surface was under water earlier in the day.

With the fielding restrictions applying for only three overs a fast start was essential for both teams and Hick provided it with some devastating clean hitting, which brought him sixes off Anthony Ireland, Carl Greenidge and Mark Hardinges.

He eventually fell to a catch at deep cover but by then the total was 41 in only the fourth over.

Opening partner Vikram Solanki could not find his timing and departed eight runs later, well stumped by Steve Adshead, standing up to the seam bowling of Hardinges.

The conditions told on Gloucestershire's fielding and three catches went down, although Marshall did well to hold two skiers.

Ben Smith hit 18 off 10 balls to keep the momentum going but wickets also fell steadily before Worcestershire set what appeared a very competitive target.

Marshall and Craig Spearman clearly were not impressed. The two openers hit 40 off the first three overs despite neither hitting a six with Spearman, back after a long injury lay-off making 12.

The result was in doubt when Marshall retired, having smacked a ball from paceman Doug Bollinger into his knee, and Spearman fell immediately afterwards to seamer Nadeem Malik.

But captain Gidman calmed any nerves, taking four, six, four off successive balls in Malik's second over to put Gloucestershire back in control, to claim the man of the match award.