WORCESTERSHIRE'S alarming slump continued at Grace Road last night -- and they now have to beat Kent in their final National League game to avoid relegation from Division One.

It's a staggering change of fortune for a side who topped the table by eight points on June 24 and were clear title favourites.

But they should have ensured their First Division survival by winning this floodlit clash with fellow relegation strugglers Leicestershire.

Victory looked in the bag when the Royals dismissed the Foxes for just 152 and were then 41 without loss chasing the modest target.

They rarely looked in trouble as openers Philip Weston and Jamie Pipe cruised through the first nine over. Then the wheels came off. Pipe was run out when he slipped after being sent back and Weston and Vikram Solanki fell to successive deliveries from Phil DeFreitas in the next over.

Kumble held a stinging catch at short cover off Weston and Solanki was bowled offering no shot. It was 41 for three -- and the home side were back in it.

But Paul Pollard and David Leatherdale dragged things round again with the biggest partnership of the match, putting on 60 in 18 overs to push the Royals within sight of victory for a second time.

Once again though, Worcestershire blew it. This time four wickets went for two runs in five overs, as they slipped from 102-3 to 104-7.

Leatherdale, the game's top scorer with 39, edged to wicketkeeper Neil Burns off seamer James Ormond; Ryan Driver did the same against medium-pacer Wells; Pollard, after scoring 11 off 56 balls, thrashed at a delivery from Darren Maddy and chopped it into his stumps; and Stuart Lampitt was run out going for a suicidal single.

The Foxes could hardly believe their luck, and a match that should have been out of their reach suddenly produced a nerve-tingling finale, with the Royals needing 14 off the last two overs.

But Maddy conceded just one run and claimed the wicket of Steve Rhodes, and Richard Illingworth and Glenn McGrath were out in the final over from Wells.

It was a real slap in the face for the Worcestershire bowlers who had done so well. McGrath 2-18, Leather-dale 3-30 and Matthew Rawnsley 3-31.

Now it's down to the wire and only a win over Kent will be good enough.