RYAN Driver celebrated his NatWest Trophy debut for Worcestershire with a match-winning innings in yesterday's tense three-wicket triumph over holders Gloucestershire at New Road.

The 21-year-old left-hander cracked an unbeaten 61 which enabled the County to reach a 212-run victory target with seven balls to spare.

For man-of-the-match Driver it was his highest limited-over score which contained two sixes and two fours off 93 balls.

New Road skipper Graeme Hick said afterwards: "Fortunately, we have a bit of depth in our batting and Ryan played very well. He found a good companion later in his innings in Richard Illingworth."

Talented Driver set to work on the Gloucestershire attack after the County had slipped to 68-4 with Paul Pollard, Hick, Vikram Solanki and Elliott Wilson all back in the pavilion.

The tide began to turn when Driver joined David Leatherdale. They put on a crucial 89 in 20 overs before Leath-erdale was removed for a Trophy-best 53 which contained five fours off 65 deliveries.

His dismissal sparked an alarming decline in the County's fortunes with Steve Rhodes and Stuart Lampitt making it three wickets for just one run in 13 balls for Gloucestershire.

Cool-headed Driver, however, refused to be unsettled by the triple setback and together with Illingworth went on to secure Worcestershire a place in the fourth round at Leicestershire on Wednesday, July 5.

Illingworth ended up unbeaten on 25, including three fours off 29 balls, to help make it six wins on the trot in limited-over matches for Worcestershire.

His undefeated stand with Driver, dropped when on 28, was worth a priceless 54 in nine overs.

Earlier, Gloucestershire, after winning the toss, were well served by Jack Russell and Rob Cunliffe. Both notched half-centuries and put on 109 in 28 overs for the second wicket.

Russell eventually departed to slow left-armer Illingworth who was the County's most productive bowler with 3-43. His haul included Martyn Ball who fell victim to a superb one-handed tumbling catch by Hick at deep mid-wicket.

Young paceman Kabir Ali also marked his Trophy debut by taking 2-45 including the wicket of Cunliffe for a NatWest-best 69, which contained seven fours off 138 balls. His score, however, was eclipsed by Russell whose Trophy-best 84 was laced with nine fours off 102 deliveries.

Gloucestershire looked at one stage as if they were heading for a far higher total than they eventually achieved but started to lose wickets when they attempted to step up their scoring rate.

Aussie pace star Glenn McGrath did his best to restrict them, but failed to take a wicket for only the second time this season.