Women finish with double win

» GLOUCESTERSHIRE Women finished their T20 campaign on a high after defeating Cornwall and Dorset at Dumbleton.

Gloucestershire began the day by exacting revenge against a Cornish side who had beaten them a week earlier.

After being put into bat, the home side were reduced to 13-2 but gained a foothold in the game thanks to a partnership of 50 between skipper Alice Hill and wicketkeeper Abbie Whybrow.

Hill batted patiently for a resilient 22 from 43 balls while the fluent Whybrow took on the role of aggressor, adding 30 by the time her partner was bowled by Rebecca Odgers (2-21) to end their stand.

When the same bowler dismissed Whybrow for 37 (from 48 balls) to make it 74-4 Gloucestershire had work to do.

But they ended the innings in style with 18 from nine balls from Mollie Robbins to finish on 95-5.

In reply Gloucestershire got off to a perfect start as Sidra Khan trapped Bernadette Forge leg before to make it 3-1.

Robbins then removed Odgers in the same manner to leave Cornwall struggling on 12-2 and she was unlucky not to strike again as she sent down a superb opening spell of four overs for six runs.

Caitlin Burnett and Joleigh Roberts added 20 for the third wicket before leg spinner Bea Ellis (2-17) turned the game in Gloucestershire’s favour with two quick wickets.

Helen Cutler (1-13) got in on the act to remove Sophie Richards and the Cornish were up against it on 40-5.

But with Burnett (28) still at the crease the game wasn’t over as the opener put on 26 with Charlotte Phillips (11) for the sixth wicket.

A run out from Cerys King removed Burnett and when Hill (1-20) dismissed Phillips to make it 71-7 the match looked to have swung back Gloucestershire’s away.

The returning Khan then picked up her second wicket to leave Cornwall needing 21 with two wickets left.

Once again the visitors fought back and despite another wicket for Khan (3-28) they kept going until the end, falling five runs short.

The victory was Gloucestershire’s second of the T20 competition and was quickly followed by their third against a depleted Dorset.

Gloucestershire made 128-8, with Chloe Skelton (27), Whybrow (20) and Isabel Carey (20) contributing against a team with just eight players.

In response, Hill took 3-7 as Gloucestershire bowled their opponents out for 34.

The two wins mean Gloucestershire finish in fourth place in their group.

Cutler, 17, finished as the third highest wicket taker in the group with nine at an average of 8.78 in her second season of senior county cricket.