GLOUCESTERSHIRE Gladiators announced themselves as major contenders for the Twenty20 Cup with a four-wicket victory over Worcestershire Roayls at Bristol on Saturday.

The home side bowled and fielded superbly after winning the toss, restricting the County to 122 all out with Andrew Hall top scoring with 46 off 38 balls.

Gloucestershire were not as impressive with the bat but Jonty Rhodes hit 42, including 17 off the 17th over bowled by Matt Mason, to turn the game as they won with five balls to spare.

The pitch was not conducive to big-hitting and Rhodes hit the only six in the 37th over of the match.

Mark Alleyne had the rare distinction of bowling a wicket maiden in the sixth over of the County's innings, dismissing Mason after five dot balls.

When the fielding restrictions were lifted at the end of that over the visitors had only made 28 for three. Hall and Kadeer Ali then batted sensibly in a fourth-wicket stand of 62 before both fell in quick succession. Kadeer was run out by Alleyne and just one run later Hall was pinned lbw by Martyn Ball to leave the County 91-5.

The tail struggled against Ian Harvey (2-27) but Mike Smith was the pick of the Gloucestershire bowling, sending down his four overs for figures of 1-15 at the start of the innings.

Gloucestershire had the chance to pace their innings, but made an equally poor start as Mark Harrity removed openers Craig Spearman and Chris Taylor, while Harvey ran himself out.

Rhodes and Matt Windows steadied the ship with a fourth-wicket stand of 42, but the required rate was rising when Windows holed out to Chris Liptrot with the score 66-4 in the 13th over. Alex Gidman fell quickly, but Alleyne played sensibly for his 19 not out, supporting Rhodes, who had gauged the pace of the pitch and was scoring with greater freedom.

The South African was eventually stumped off the pads of wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes, having made his runs off 35 balls, with three fours and a six.

But at 110-6 in the 18th over Gloucestershire required only 13 and Jack Russell quickly helped knock them off in front of a crowd of 2,700.

Alleyne was named man-of-the-match.