GLAMORGAN missed the chance to go top of the National League Division One table when they lost by three runs under the Duckworth Lewis method against Worcestershire at rain-hit New Road.

Facing a revised victory target of 126 in 18 overs, they were restricted to 122-7 in a thrilling finish.

It was their fourth NL defeat in five games and leaves them two points adrift of title pacesetters Gloucestershire and Surrey, having played a game more, with their hopes of retaining their title disappearing.

Mike Powell (33) and Matthew Maynard (32) did their best to steer Glamorgan to their target, but the task proved too great when they needed 10 runs off the last over from medium-paver David Leatherdale.

The unsuccessful chase proved particularly painful for Adrian Dale, who was forced to retire injured when he top-edged a delivery from pace-man Kabir Ali into his face.

Earlier, Worcestershire, after being put in, had been restricted to 117-5 in a match initially reduced to 23 overs a side and later to 18.

They had to work hard for their runs after the New Road groundstaff had carried out extensive mopping up operations to enable the game to start under floodlights at 7.15pm.

Worcestershire got off to a bright and breezy start with Vikram Solanki and Anurag Singh putting on 36 in five overs.

But once England one-day star Solanki had been caught at slip by Powell off paceman Michael Kasprowicz for 20, Glamorgan gained the upper hand.

Graeme Hick and Andrew Hall both fell for ducks to Kasprowicz who ended with 3-23. Singh fell for 25 before rain interrupted Worcestershire's progress at 84-4 off 15.3 overs.

Leatherdale departed to the first ball after the break but skipper Ben Smith smashedthree sixes in his 43 off 36 balls.

Glamorgan looked to be in control of the chase but stoppages kept changing the Duckworth Lewis calculations and in the end they needed four off the final ball, Alex Wharf failing to connect with Leatherdale's delivery.