Our Gloucestershire Disability sides have been in action again this month across D40, S9 Performance, S9 Pairs, and Visually Impaired cricket. If you are interested in finding out more about disability cricket and want to get involved, then visit our website or get in touch with Jeanette Tate.
Here is how our sides got on in their most recent matches, written by the disability cricket players and coaches:
D40 vs Somerset – 14th June
It was the biggest game of the season so far for the D40 team. Facing a side we’ve struggled to beat in the past, but determined to turn the tide today.
Somerset won the toss and chose to bat first. Hamish Hassler and Oliver Sutton opened the bowling for us, and despite bowling well, the Somerset openers scored positively without getting out. But this soon changed when Liara Hampton came on to bowl and took two wickets in her second over, dismissing the number one and three batters, leaving Somerset 67-2 after 13 overs. Liara took her third wicket two overs later with a fantastic catch behind the stumps from Matt Bermingham.
At the halfway stage Somerset were 91-3 and looked likely to post a very big score. However, some twin magic changed this for us with Andrew Stracey getting our fourth and fifth wickets with a catch of the season contender from his twin brother Benjamin Stracey that left us all amazed. With more amazing bowling from Benjamin Stracey, Henry Clelland, Oliver Sutton, as well as a cool, casual but fantastic direct hit from Hamish Hassler, we bowled Somerset all out for 169. Liara was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5 overs, conceding 13 runs for 3 wickets.
After a strong bowling display, we turned our focus to the chase. We started steady and built a great platform, opener Andrew Stracey making 25. However, at the halfway stage we were 66-3 and had left ourselves a big task for the last twenty overs. But our captain and player for the moment, Paul Ballinger, steered us to the winning lane reaching his fifty with the winning runs in the 39th over, greatly assisted by a run-a-ball 17 for both Oliver Sutton and Henry Clelland.
A brilliant team effort to overcome Somerset, proof of how far this group has come.
D40 vs Sussex
After our huge win over Somerset, team spirit and desire were higher than ever heading into our next league game.
Continuing our run of bad luck with the toss, Sussex won it and chose to bowl first. After a good opening partnership last game, we sent out Andrew Stracey and Naomi Forecast on what looked like a difficult batting pitch. After losing some early wickets and slipping to 30-3, we thought that our assessment of the pitch was spot on. However, Naomi Forecast battled through it and once she got her eye in, blasted the ball around to reach another 75 retirement off just 60 balls. Naomi must have passed on some great advice to Matt Bermingham as he supported Naomi with 64 from 61. A first 50 for Matt and what a time to get it. Benjamin Stracey supported Matt with a good 24, which allowed Hayden Pitts and Liara Hampton to play some powerful shots. At the end of our 40 overs, we finished with 280. We were batting first for the first time this season and proved that we know how to set an imposing score.
After a superb batting performance, we turned our attention to the bowling innings. Making his first league appearance of the season, Hayden Pitts, nicknamed ‘Young Mitchell Starc’ by our head coach, opened the bowling. Rumour had already spread around the local cricket club that we had a quick, tall left-arm bowler and he certainly lived up to the hype. The spectators weren’t disappointed, first ball of the innings, Hayden blew away the Sussex opener’s stumps. But Hayden wasn’t done, the fifth ball of his first over saw the stumps out of the ground, leaving Sussex 0-2.
At the other end, Oliver Sutton opened the bowling with his left-arm off-spin, which you’d think would be easier for Sussex to face. Oli only went for two runs in his first over, and Hayden bowled a maiden in his second over. In Oli’s second over, he took two wickets, helped by a superb low catch from wicketkeeper Matt Bermingham. After 4 overs, Sussex were 2-4. Hayden’s third over only went for one as his opening spell finished with figures of 3 overs 1 run for 2 wickets. His opening partner was equally impressive, as Oli’s spell brought figures of 3 overs 5 runs for 2 wickets.
We didn’t relent. On came our star bowler from the Somerset game, Liara Hampton, who took a wicket in her second over. Alongside Liara. Shravani Philpot came on to bowl. After somehow managing to bowl a ball backwards, Shravani managed to bowl two of the Sussex players out. Fortunately for Shravani, our coach didn’t manage to catch Shravani’s backwards ball on camera. Benjamin Stracey came on to bowl and wrapped up the innings with a lovely flighted leg spinner hitting the stumps, meaning we had bowled Sussex out for 50. Seven of the wickets hitting the stumps made our coach very happy with the consistency of the team’s bowling. A huge shoutout to our wicketkeeper Matt Bermingham, giving away no byes.
Two outstanding performances and victories.
S9 Performance v Dorset – 7th June
Having won the toss, we elected to field, and with careful, accurate bowling from everyone, we restricted Dorset to 93-0 at 21 overs. At which point the first wicket fell, taken by Alex Alford. After this, wickets fell regularly, taken by Tristan Caudle-Stephens, Reuben Schbert-Rowles, and Felix Turkentine, which left Dorset on 155 for 4 at the end of the innings
After a tea break, Elijah Mei and Dave Smart came out to bat. Elijah supported Dave by rotating the strike until the score was 102, when unfortunately Dave’s runner was run out. Elijah continued batting, supported by others with mixed results. A chair for the incoming batter had been found, ‘the lucky chair’. Players began to realise how close it was, not helped by the scoreboard running a little slow. Scores were level at 29 overs, and Elijah hit 4 off the penultimate ball for Gloucestershire to win by 5 wickets
A great win for this young team, led by Elijah, who throughout the match didn’t rush, just took everything calmly, and batted for the whole innings, scoring 38 not out.
S9 Performance v Cornwall – 21st June
Back at Cirencester CC, the S9 Performance team faced Cornwall, last year’s league winners, and reportedly a strong team.
Unfazed, Gloucestershire lost the toss and went out to field. The weather was hot when Zak Gardener opened the bowling with Reuben Schubert-Rowles. They bowled accurately, and by 8 overs, Reuben and Zak had both taken 2 wickets, leaving Cornwall 30 for 4, and a change of bowlers was made. Felix Turkentine and James Bermingham took up the attack, and the score crept up. Mark Stevens from Cornwall retired not out when his prosthetic leg broke in a fall, but otherwise the batters were set. Issy Sherrington-Lodge and Brian Woodcock were next change of bowlers before Reuben was brought back. Taking a wicket with his first ball, Reuben was bowled out on 4.1- 2 – 13 – 3; great bowling from this young player. At the end of the innings Cornwall were 147 for 5
After tea, the ‘lucky chair’ was brought back, but it wasn’t to be. Elijah was out early on, followed by a flurry of wickets, until Dave Smart (18) and Reuben Schubert- Rowles (16) steadied the team. The chair was retired. Brian Woodcock came in at the end of the innings, supported by Issy Sherrington-Rowles. Zak had let Brian know that we only needed 47 off the last over to win, and it was possible. But it wasn’t to be, and we lost by 35 runs
It was another great performance from the team, with players supporting each other, and we stayed positive throughout despite the quality of the opposition.
S9 Pairs v Somerset – 28th June
The S9 pairs team met Somerset Dragons on their second match of the series at Frampton on Severn CC. Somerset Dragons had 10 players, and we had 7, so it was decided that each pair would bat for 5 overs.
With the sun shining, we lost the toss and went into bat. Reuben and Peter batted first, and we were off to a flying start, and the score was 252 at the end of 5 overs.
Batting continued, with Sam and Andrew, Guy and Cameron, and Corin and Peter, before Somerset Dragons’ captains decided Sam and Guy should bat as the last pair. There was lots of cheering, encouragement for everyone, and laughter, and we ended the innings on 308
After a quick snack, we went onto the field. We borrowed two rotating fielders from Somerset Dragons, and Peter and Corin opened the bowling. After 5 overs, Corin went to refine his scoring skills, and Andrew and Cameron continued the bowling. Wickets were taken by Peter (2), Guy (2) plus an amazing 1 handed catch, Cameron (1), and Andrew (1); we restricted the Somerset Dragons to 301.
Sam Lloyd captained this ever-changing team brilliantly, supporting all, and the whole team’s enthusiasm and camaraderie shone throughout the match. A great start to S9 pairs for newcomers Guy and Corin.
Gloucestershire Growlers vs RNC College Hereford
On the 17th June, the Growlers traveled to Hereford for our latest match of the 2026 season. Before we get into the match, a massive thank you to JP and Helen for stepping in to umpire on short notice.
We lost the toss, and RNC put us in to bat first. First up were Chris and Eddy, they started the scoring until Eddy was out by LBW, bringing Growler captain Sheona to the crease. Playing as a total, wearing a blindfold, every run she scored would count double.
With additional runs as the incentive, the runners for both batters were pushing for every opportunity. Chris looked to up the scoring rate but was unlucky to get caught. It was a double blow as Sheona followed LBW not long after, her first dismissal of the season.
RNC slowly worked their way through our batters, but we finished with an impressive total of 161 for 5 off 26 overs. We had a quick tea we began the 2nd innings, knowing that RNC would start their batting with their captain and another good hitter. The Growlers’ opening bowlers were Chris and Peter. Even with their captain playing well, and the very warm weather, the Growlers fielding was faultless.
Communicating together, we managed to get a few run-outs. The best being a combined effort in which Craig rolled the ball to Chris, our wicketkeeper, and along the way saying to Sheona to jump so the ball went under her feet.
Wickets then continued to fall, but RNC reached their victory target of 162 for 7 off 20.5 overs
Our next game was the 28th T20 semi-final, with a place against Cheshire in the final awaiting.
Gloucestershire Growlers vs Birmingham
The Growlers travelled to Wolverhampton for the T20 semi-final against Birmingham. Having played them earlier in the season, we knew we were in for a tough match.
Birmingham elected to bowl, after winning the toss, so Jamal and Mark Jefferies went to open the innings. An early run out after a couple of overs brought Sheona to the crease survived some strong bowling. At the drinks break, knowing that she had to bowl 6 overs retired to let our loan player David Viner take over. He built a good partnership with David until Craig got bowled after scoring 20.
After a 10-minute drink break, the Growlers went in to field. Our bowling openers were Jamal Peter and David. Birmingham had their two best batters out to start. Hassan scored his 50 by hitting seven 6s. It was a brilliant innings.
This is where the Growlers struggled, as we only had eight players versus Birmingham’s full 11, so there were gaps in the field. Even though we were short in the field, the team gave 100% with Eddy’s bowling improving and Thomas running everywhere.
Ultimately, Birmingham beat us in 10 overs, reaching their target without the loss of a wicket.
If you are interested in trying cricket, then we have non-competitive sessions called Super1s with locations across the county.
