Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation Disability Teams, started the season with two close matches, with both decided on the last ball
Gloucestershire D40 v Dorset D40 in South West D40 Pursuit league
Gloucestershire won the toss and chose to bat
After winning the toss and deciding to bat initially things did not go well for Gloucestershire losing 2 early wickets and finding themselves 10 for 2. However, Naomi Forecast and Brandon Burger along with Oliver Sutton steadied the ship but once they were dismissed Gloucestershire found themselves struggling again at 94-5. What followed was a fantastic partnership of 130 between the Captain, Charlie Bailey and 16 year old debutant Riley Pearce taking the score to 226 with only a few overs remaining. Riley also then perished going for quick runs allowing the Stracey twins Benjamin and Andrew also on debut to score their first runs in a D40 team. Gloucester finished on a respectable 233 for 7 after 40 overs
The Dorset D40 team reply started at a rapid rate with the visitors getting ahead of the run rate before Oliver Sutton came on to bowl and pegged them back and then dismissed both openers leaving Dorset 78 for 2 after 11 Overs. Dorset then continued to bat well keeping up with the run rate with N Gellings scoring 75 before being forced to retire at a critical stage of the match with 12 required from the last 2 overs.
The game could have gone either way with Dorset needing 3 runs to win from the final ball of the game and unfortunately for Gloucestershire R Franks from Dorset managed to find the boundary and win the game for Dorset
The game was played in an excellent spirit and there was a lot of respect for fellow players on both sides
Gloucestershire S9 Challenge v Oxfordshire S9 Challenge, friendly match
After winning the toss, Oxfordshire elected to bat first and were 13 for 2, when Lucy Hunter came in and steadied the batting, retiring on 50 not out. Wickets, continued to fall, before Lucy returned to the crease. Partnering Cam Williamson, Lucy ended the inning on 75, and Oxfordshire score was 149 for 6. Wickets taken by Tom (3), Andre (2), Zac and Liam.
Following tea, Reuben and Andy opened the batting. Defending their wicket well, runs slowly were made before Fred hunter bowled Reuben. Liam was next in. Score was 48 for 1 at 15 overs, and the question was, could we score over 100 in next 15 overs?
Andy and Liam continued to bat, and steadily increasing the runs, exhausting 2 runners, they both retired not out on 50. Oxfordshire’s bowlers, Fred Hunter, Sam Gibbins took 3 quick wickets, allowing Andy (with Reuben as runner) and Liam to return to the crease.
Scores were close, with Gloucestershire needing 2 runs from the last ball to win. With Liam’s batting, everyone shouting run, Liam and Reuben ran 2 quick runs to win the match
For both teams, it was an excellent introduction to 30 over matches, a format new to many of the players. All performed well, had fun, and there was great sportsmanship all round. We look forward to the return match later in the season. Thank you, Oxfordshire, for hosting us and lending us fielders.