Gloucestershire women vs Kent (horses) women – (match 37, league two) at Bristol, Seat Unique Stadium on BH Monday 25 August 2025 (10h30)
Impressive win for Gloucestershire women, needing to win with bonus points for a wafer-thin chance to qualify for semi-finals in fourth place. Previously, Kent (horses) women were said to have beaten Glos on the same ground at T20. On the day, Elsa Barnfather’s [43runs(from67 balls)] partnership with Amy Gordon 36(50) recovered Kent (horses) women to 100/2 but another collapse happened when four wickets fell for 14 runs. Tail-enders Isabella James and Sydney Gorham were the only two other batters who made double-figures during their defiant last wicket stand. The highlight of Gloucestershire women’s reply was Jess Hazell’s 70*not out (from 72). Partnered by Melissa Story 24*not out (33), Glos women’s run-chase was completed when Jess Hazell struck three ‘fours’ to level the scores, with one ‘extra’ nudging Glos women ‘over-the-line; with a wide margin of twelve-and-a-half overs. Glos women placed 6th (4 wins from 8); Kent 9th (1 win.) Commentators were: Ed ‘cricket’ Seabourne (BBC Radios Bristol & Glos) with Carol Camino (with support from Glos County cricket partner HerGameToo.) Weather: high-level cloud evolving into bright sunshine 18C.
Kent (horses) women wearing ‘sky’-blue with white shoulder trim over dark blue *returning skipper Megan Belt *[Jess Hazell keeping wicket for Glos]; with Megan Sturge (Hampshire loan); & Zeena Bilal (Surrey Women’s Academy loan); *First two wickets fell on 11/2 when cursed by commentators who expected top-order batters to ‘go hard,’ during power-play, *’Showing intent,’ (to score) Ella Darlington was caught aerial at ’mid-wicket’ by Becca Halliday, from Alice Bird; *’Huge wicket’ when Megan Sturge snicked-an-edge to fellow keeper Jess Hazell, from Caitlin Belcher for a second-ball ‘duck; *After ten overs power-play: 54/2; *Mis-timing a ‘cut’, Amy Gordon snicked-an-edge, caught behind by keeper Jess Hazell, from Chloe Skelton – belatedly ‘out;’ *Mis-timing ‘square-cut,’ Coco Streets was bowled beneath her bat by Chloe Skelton, making an undignified exit; *Playing across-the-line, Sophie Singer snicked an inside-edge to keeper Jess Hazell, from Olivia ‘Liv’ Daniels; *Mis-timing ‘square,’ from a top-edge, Elsa Barnfather was caught aerial at ‘short-fine’ by Georgina Cant, from Charlotte R Phillips; *Drinks taken (25 ov.) on 119/6; *Mis-timing a swipe, Zeena Bilal was bowled ‘middle-and-off,’ by Olivia ‘Liv’ Daniels; *Scooping a slow-ball aerial, Laura Bailey, was caught at ‘fine’ by Georgina Cant, from Charlotte R Phillips; *Megan Belt was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Charlotte R Phillips; *Finally, Sydney Gorham was caught-and-bowled by Chloe Skelton diving forward; Kent (horses) women batting: Elsa Barnfather43(67), Amy Gordon36(50), Sydney Gorham17(33), Isabella James16*not out(31); Gloucestershire women bowling: Charlotte R Phillips 3/25, Chloe Skelton 3/58, Olivia ‘Liv’ Daniels 2/28, Alice Bird 1/21, Caitlin Belcher 1/23;
Gloucestershire women wearing yellow bibs over black with yellow shoulder stripes; *Skipper Olivia ‘Liv’ Daniels *[Megan Sturge keeping wicket for Kent (horses) women;] *with Jess Hazell & Chloe Skelton (Somerset loans), *with Melissa Story (BBC Broadcaster); *Rebecca Halliday, was caught high at ‘mid-on’ by Sydney Gorham, from Isabella James; *After ten overs power-play: 46/1 (vs 54/2); *Georgina Cant was caught aerial at ‘mid-on’ by Isabella James, from Megan Belt; *Meg Ahearne was caught at ‘slip’ by diving Amy Gordon, from Isabella James; *Drinks taken on 25 ov. 100/3 (vs 119/6); *Chloe Skelton was caught aerial at ‘backward point’ by Ella Darlington, from Megan Belt Gloucestershire women batting: Jess Hazell70*not out (72), Becca Halliday32(34), Melissa Story24*not out(33), Meg Ahearne18(53), Chloe Skelton10(24); Kent (horses) women bowling: Isabella James 2/26, Megan Belt 2/40;
Match result: Gloucestershire women 176/4 (@4.6 runs-per-over from 37.3/50ov, target 176 from 50/50 ov.) beat Kent (horses) women 175 ‘All out’ (@4.2 r-p-o from 41/50overs) by six wickets with 75 balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#md07e40df-d6f7-467e-a39a-c0bd1095521f
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225612 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/gloucestershire-women-v-kent-women/scorecard/61ff61ad-c628-5ae1-9373-52af07acfe78
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Gloucester Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [05h27m22s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9e1_gFj6cQ
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/22/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/25/metro-bank-league-two-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
