Alan Richardson took four wickets as rain foiled Worcestershire's chance of securing a win over Gloucestershire which would have lifted them into second place in Division Two of the LV= County Championship.

The match ended in a draw after wet weather at New Road prevented the final day from starting until 3.45pm.

Gloucestershire resumed their second innings 46 runs ahead on 189 for five and were 100 in front when they brought the game to a close by declaring on 243 for seven with paceman Richardson claiming four for 68.

The match, in which only 29.1 overs were possible on the opening day due to rain, ended with the wet conditions making it a frustrating outcome for Worcestershire who had been hoping to register their fourth win in seven games. Last season they suffered relegation after failing to clinch a victory.

Gloucestershire had to be content with their first draw of the season after winning four of their previous five matches.

The last time they won a Championship game at New Road was when they triumphed by 78 runs in 1986.

With the final day being reduced to a possible 36 overs, Chris Taylor, on 18 not out overnight, and James Franklin, unbeaten with 21, resumed against Matt Mason and Richardson and took their partnership to 41 before Worcestershire made a breakthrough.

Their victim was Franklin who pulled Richardson to the square leg boundary where he was caught two-handed low down by Alexei Kervezee for 23.

Taylor, who was his side's top scorer in the first innings with 71, then fell for 30, containing three fours, when he swung across the line against a Richardson delivery which kept low.

Soon afterwards 35 year-old Richardson was unfortunate not to remove Vikram Banerjee who had move on to nine when was put down at fourth slip by New Road skipper Vikram Solanki.