ECB Women’s County Championship Division Three

Oxfordshire (145 all out) lost to Gloucestershire (170) by 25 runs

GLOUCESTERSHIRE made a winning start to their 2014 County Championship campaign against Oxfordshire.

Chasing 171 for victory, the home side were never able to fully recover from a devastating opening spell by Bristol Phoenix's Sidra Khan (3-13), who blew away the home side’s top order to leave them on 8-3.

Samantha Moore, Ellie Porter and Carla Wood all fell without scoring as Khan bowled with pace and accuracy.

Genny Porter (35) and Oxfordshire skipper Gemma Muttitt (21) helped rebuild their team’s innings but when Muttitt was caught and bowled by Mollie Robbins with the score on 47-4 it was always going to be an uphill battle.

Robbins then had Abigail Flory caught behind for nine before Abigail Evans struck twice, including the key wicket of Porter, to leave the home side on 108-7.

A battling 31 from Oxfordshire number eight Abi Currie gave her side some hope but two run outs ended any realistic chance of victory.

Robbins wrapped up the win in style, removing Currie to finish with figures of 3-24.

Earlier, Gloucestershire had posted a competitive total thanks to contributions of 28 from Evans and a crucial 63-run partnership between Danika Dyer (31) of Hambrook and Bath and Bristol Phoenix's Chloe Davis (20).

Gloucestershire women are next in action against the Netherlands at Thornbury on May 25.