RAIN put an end to Gloucestershire's hopes of claiming victory on the final day of the County Championship clash with Worcestershire at New Road. 

Worcestershire were struggling at 51/4 at lunch on the final day, after Gloucestershire declared on 226/4 with a lead of 300.

But the rain came during the interval and there was to be no more play throughout the afternoon.

Gloucestershire's Chris Dent added a few more runs to his overnight score before he top-edged to Ben Cox for 83 off the bowling of Matthew Waite.

The visitors then declared on 226/4, a lead of 300, to give Worcestershire 301 to claim victory with 86 overs left.

Ed Pollock edged the first delivery of the innings to the fourth slip but an easy catch was dropped to let him off the hook. 

But the opener did not last much longer as he was caught playing a hook shot by the 12th man off the bowling of star-man Tom Price, who then also had Azhar Ali caught for 9.

Worcestershire were on the slide and when Jack Haynes came and went without scoring, Gloucestershire had three wickets inside the first five overs. 

Matters were worsened for Worcestershire in the seventh over as a de Lange delivery caught Brett D'Oliveira on the forearm and the skipper was unable to continue, retiring injured and being replaced by Waite. 

Jake Libby was the last out-and-out batter remaining at this point and looked to be the hope for Worcestershire but he then played at a wider Singh Dale delivery and Marcus Harris took the catch to leave the hosts four down and in big trouble.

The expected rain then arrived as lunch was taken with Worcestershire 51/4 and there was to be no play until 4PM, with 40 overs remaining.

But more rain came and in the end the game was abandoned, with a draw the final result.