Worcestershire 267 (D’Oliveira 83, Kishore 4-76) and 281 for two (Lategan 144, Libby 107*) beat Gloucestershire 150 and 395 for 7 dec (Bracey 127, Worth 77, Hammond 58) by eight wickets
But it surely was 20-year-old Lategan who stole the present in solely his twelfth Championship look, the elegant South African left-hander scoring 144 by way of 163 deliveries and hanging 17 fours and 5 sixes, 4 of the latter coming on the expense of India spinner Sai Kishore.
James Bracey had earlier scored a battling 127 and staged a partnership of 102 with Ollie Worth, who mustered 77, to propel Gloucestershire to 395-7 declared and set-up an thrilling finale to the Pageant. Worcestershire took 20 factors, with bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire claiming three as they slipped to an eighth defeat in 9 matches.
Worcestershire’s hopes of controlling the sport have been invested within the new ball, which was taken within the second over of the day. However the pitch was by now, largely, unresponsive to seam and Gloucestershire’s batters continued to name the pictures, Bracey going to 50 from 63 balls because the in a single day lead of 131 was prolonged apace.
Ultimately in a position to drive down the bottom with out jeopardy, Worth performed his half in staging 100 partnership in 22 overs to impact a momentum shift. By the point he was bowled by Ben Allison, he had harvested seven boundaries.
Having opened up an finish, Allison then snaffled an opportunity within the slip cordon as Tom Taylor accounted for Tommy Boorman cheaply, whereas Daz Ahmed skied a catch behind off Beyers Swanepoel with the rating 310-6, Worcestershire reimposing stress on the Gloucestershire batting.
His priorities clearly outlined following the autumn of three fast wickets, the watchful Bracey went to his nineteenth firstclass hundred and his third of the season from 128 deliveries, dominating a stand of 70 with Ed Middleton to usher his aspect to security. Swanepoel bowled Bracey to complete with 4 for 49 from 22 overs and the declaration got here shortly after lunch.
Kishore took the brand new ball and created stress instantly, Lategan edging the primary supply to brief leg, the place Boorman put down a pointy likelihood. If the skilled sluggish left-armer was troublesome to attain in opposition to, the seamers introduced a possibility, Lategan and Libby elevating 50 in 12 overs to afford the chase strong foundations.
Rising in stature and confidence, Lategan drove Kishore for an enormous six over large long-on to bring-up a 48-ball half century, his duel with spin luring Pageant devotees from the marquees to look at the drama unfold. Content material to play a supporting position, Libby contributed 35 to a gap stand of 100 inside 20 overs as Worcestershire reached tea on 110 with out loss.
Required to attain an extra 169 off a minimal 37 overs within the ultimate session with all wickets standing, the guests have been within the driving seat, an impression confirmed when Libby went to 50 from 82 balls.
Spinners Worth, Middleton and Kishore bowled tidily after tea to drive the required fee above 5, however Lategan surpassed his earlier highest rating of 89, made at Derby in April, and pulled Worth to the boundary to register his maiden firstclass hundred by way of 132 deliveries and maintain the chase on monitor.
By the point Libby chopped a supply from Miles Hammond right down to the third man boundary to lift his hundred from 136 balls, Worcestershire have been nearly residence and dry.