GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S new senior women’s team celebrated their historic first outing with a hard earned 11-run victory over visiting Wiltshire at Oldlands.
The home side lost the toss but battled their way to a total of 117-6 from their 20, opener Kelly Armfield (37) and Emma Phillips (32 not) the top scorers.
And Gloucestershire then put the pressure on in the field, Luck Wilkes leading the way with a return of 2-20 from four while there were also excellent spells from Georgina Hitchings (1-23 from four), Kelly (1-9 from three) and Clare Caudle-Stephens (0-16 from four) as Wiltshire came up short.
Gloucestershire Seniors chair Razi Ahmed said: “It was an absolutely brilliant day and there was a lovely family atmosphere with lots of people coming along to support the teams.
“The game itself was very close and our team had to work hard for the victory. We hope this is just the start for our new women’s team, and we’re also hoping that we will soon be able to announce details of another game next month.”
Gloucestershire Over 60s, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten record with a seven-run home victory against Wiltshire, at Corse & Staunton.
Opener Rob Austen (71), Steve Witcomb (46), James Cotterill (38) and Nick Marment (36) helped power the home side to an imposing 288-8 from 45 after winning the toss.
But Wiltshire also enjoyed friendly batting conditions and came very close to taking the spoils, Kevin Hendy finishing unbeaten on 100 exactly.
Ed Gordon Lennox captured 2-14 from seven while there were two wickets for Nic Hayward and Marment sent down six overs for only 22.
The 60s 2nds emerged 50 run victors away to Wiltshire at Marlborough, David Yates unbeaten on 72 while Andy Kear took 2-33 from six.
And the 60s 3rds wrapped up a successful day with a 103-run triumph away to Staffordshire, Andy Macleod (62), Paul Silvester (4-26) and Keith Morris (3-35) all shining.
Gloucestershire Over 50s 2nds restricted Worcestershire to 147-9 ahead of romping in by ten wickets through Steve Davies (78) and Gareth Price (65).
And the 70s 2nds held off Buckinghamshire by 23 runs in a friendly at Stowell Park, Mike Pickard compiling an excellent unbeaten 102.
ED Gordon Lennox will captain an England Over 60s team featuring county colleague Razi Ahmed against West Indies, at Littleborough on June 16 and also at Dunnington on June 18.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Richard Trotman skippered England to victory in their very first Over 50s international against Scotland, hitting 37 off 21 in a 307-run success at Lansdown.
THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES
TUESDAY JUNE 10
Gloucestershire Over 50 3rds v Oxfordshire (home, at Chalford)
Gloucestershire Over 60s 3rds v Warwickshire (home, at Westbury-on-Severn)
Gloucestershire Over 60s 4ths v Hertfordshire (home, at Birdlip)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 11
Gloucestershire Over 50s away v Oxfordshire
Gloucestershire Over 50s 2nds v Somerset (home, at Bristol West Indian Phoenix)
Gloucestershire Over 50s 4ths away v Somerset
THURSDAY JUNE 12
Gloucestershire Over 70s away v Wiltshire
MAIN IMAGE: Gloucestershire Senior Women – back row, left to right: Andrew Marson (scorer), Terry Deakin (umpire), Kay Moore, Emma Phillips, Clare Caudle-Stephens, Victoria Edmunds, Lucy Wilkes, Trudy Bartlett, Ian Martin (umpire). Front: Steve Pennington, Kat Buckland, Madi Pavey-Edwards, Maria Fowler, Kelly Armfield, Georgina Hitchings, Meika Byas, Razi Ahmed