Charlesworth hits 130 as Glo’sters overcome Wiltshire

BEN Charlesworth marked his return to the Gloucestershire team with a century in a comprehensive victory against Minor Counties side Wiltshire at the Bristol County Ground.

The highly-rated young batsman missed the opening months of the campaign with a dislocated shoulder, suffered while fielding in a pre-season T20 game agianst Somerset in early April.

However, with many Gloucestershire players now away playing for various teams in The Hundred, Charlesworth made 130, with 16 fours and a six, as the hosts rattled up 334-3 in 50 overs against Wiltshire.

Graeme van Buuren gave good support to the opener with 61 from 58 balls, while Ollie Price, with an unbeaten 48 from 33 deliveries, and Ben Wells, with 24 not out from 15 balls, ensured Gloucestershire posted an imposing total. No Wiltshire bowler suffered more than Arthur Godsall, who took 2-103 in his 10 overs.

Will Wade led the Wiltshire reply with 67, but Gloucestershire’s array of slow bowlers took a grip on the game and the visitors were bowled out for 229. Van Buuren was the pick of the attack with 5-36.

In another warm-up game for the Royal London One-day Cup, a mainly second-string Somerset side slipped to a five-wicket defeat against Cornwall at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.

Teenager George Thomas (68) and Lewis Goldsworthy (59) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 98 in 17 overs, while Ben Green contributed 32 lower down the order as Somerset were dismissed for 260 with eight balls of the innings not used.

Cornwall reached their target with five wickets and 22 balls to spare, thanks in large to 93 from skipper Scott Harvey.

Somerset start their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign with a Taunton game against Derbyshire on Sunday, when Gloucestershire will begin their group games against Lancashire at the Bristol County Ground.