Gloucestershire's Kadeer Ali just had time to score an unbeaten century against his old county Worcestershire before rain washed out their Pro40 Division One clash at Cheltenham.

The opener was exactly 100 not out in a total of 217 for three when the heavens opened during the 33rd over of the match.

Hamish Marshall was stranded on 38no, while James Franklin had contributed a breezy 47 to an impressive batting display after Worcestershire had won the toss.

Both teams took one point from the abandonment.

It was still a red letter day for Kadeer, whose brother Moeen was in the Worcestershire line-up. His century came off just 102 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes.

The Gladiators had been invited to bat on a lively pitch in heavily overcast conditions.

They made a solid start before Kadeer livened up proceedings by hitting Matt Mason for successive boundaries at the end of the seventh over.

The start of the following over, a maiden from Chris Whelan, saw Will Porterfield run out for 12 by Vikram Solanki's direct hit with the total on 38.

Kadeer accelerated towards his half-century off 49 balls, with nine fours, but Gloucestershire's progress was checked when skipper Alex Gidman, on 12, top-edged Gareth Andrew to Darryl Mitchell at mid-wicket.

Franklin was soon into his stride and Kadeer was now confident enough to launch big sixes off the medium pace of Mitchell, whose two overs cost 23 runs.

His partner followed suit by lifting Andrew over the ropes, only to fall to the next ball, caught behind by Steve Davies.

That brought in Marshall at number five and he quickly signalled his intentions with a glorious straight six off Richard Jones.

Kadeer had a life while six short of his century when Stephen Moore failed to cling onto a low chance at backward-point. It was the only bit of good fortune the opener needed as he got to three figures in the nick of time.

Andrew finished with two for 35 from six overs, while Gareth Batty conceded 41 from eight and Jones went for the same number off only four. But the weather had the final say.