County women make mixed start to 50-over campaign
GLOUCESTERSHIRE Women kicked off their 2019 campaign in style with a nine wicket win over Dorset.
Seamer Mollie Robbins blew away the home side’s middle order taking 5-19 as the team made the perfect start under new captain Alice Hill and coach Jamie Diamond.
The side suffered a 32 run defeat in their second match away in Cornwall.
Against Dorset, Gloucestershire won the toss and chose to bowl first. Robbins was first to strike, removing Lucy Prest for 13.
Two quick wickets for fellow opening bowler Sidra Khan (2-10) then sparked a collapse as the home side lost seven wickets for five runs as they slipped from 19-1 to 24-8 as Khan, Robbins and a run out from Emma O’connor did the damage.
Hill came on to clean up the last two wickets as Gloucestershire bowled their opponents out for 34, then took 6.1 overs to reach their target thanks to 20 from Chloe Skelton and 15 not out from Hill.
Against Cornwall, Gloucestershire again opted to field first and a wicket each for Robbins (2-30) and Hill (2-30) restricted the home side to 34-2 before a 111 run partnership between Caitlin Burnett (71) and Rebecca Odgers (43) swung the game back Cornwall’s way.
Gloucestershire fought back with six late wickets – including two run outs – to peg the home side back to 176-8.
In reply theylost Hill early on but recovered with a stand of 51 between Skelton (39) and O’connor (29). But with no one able to emulate Burnett and play a big innings that the team could build around, Gloucestershire fell to 144 all out in the 49 th over.
Hill believes the squad can compete in both the 50 over and T20 competitions this season.
She said: “Although it is a young squad, there is a lot of cricket experience there, with the majority having played all the way through the county age groups.
“Everyone has worked really hard over the winter and there is a great atmosphere in the squad. hopefully that will translate into some good performances on the field.”
The squad includes four new faces Abby Whybrow (Dumbleton), Emma O’connor (Poulton), Emily Parsons (Bristol YMCA) and Chloe Tingle (Brockhampton) - and has been bolstered by the return of Hill and opening bowler Robbins after a year out.
They also have a new sponsor in Nick King Car Sales, a used car dealer with three sites – two in Gloucester and one in Cinderford.
Founder Nick King plays at Corse and Staunton CC with his son Callum and daughter Cerys, who is in the women’s squad.
He said he was delighted to support the team after speaking with new coach Diamond: “Jamie has put so much into getting the girls ready for the season. When he mentioned that their kit deal had fallen through he was quite deflated.
“Hopefully the new kit will help the girls feel that bit more professional and they will wear the shirt with pride.”