Gloucestershire Women v Cornwall Women (at Falmouth CC)

ECB County Championship Division 3- Group B Gloucestershire 308 - 8 (50 overs) Cornwall 51 all out (23 overs) Gloucestershire won by 257 runs

GLOUCESTERSHIRE women recorded their third successive league victory with a comprehensive 257 run over Cornwall at Famouth CC.

Abby Evans made a stunning 139 from 131 balls to help Glos to 308-8 from their 50 overs. Danielle Gibson then did the damage with the ball, taking 5-17 as the hosts were bowled out for just 51.

Earlier, Evans and Naomi Forecast made a watchful start on a slightly damp wicket after captain Eve Alder won the toss and elected to bat. They put on 80 before Forecast was bowled for 31 in the 14th over.

Gibson joined Evans and the scoring rate rose rapidly as both players started to pepper the boundaries. Evans reached 50 in the 18th over and shortly after, hit a six to make her the first Gloucestershire Women’s player to pass 2000 senior runs.

At the other end Gibson was quick to put away the bad ball and she reached her 50 in the 29th over from only 35 balls with eight boundaries. The pair had put on 125 in 17 overs, when Gibson was bowled for 57 in the 31st over.

Alice Hill joined Evans and played a supporting role ensuring that Evans had most of the strike. In the 35th over, Evans reached a high class hundred from 103 balls that contained six fours and two sixes, continuing her outstanding form this season. When she was finally dismissed in the 43rd over she had scored 139 from 131 balls and Gloucestershire were on 274 and heading for their record total. A flurry of late wickets, including the wicket of Hill for 19, slowed the rate slightly as Gloucestershire finished their 50 overs on 308-8.

In reply the Gloucestershire opening bowlers Gibson and Robbins blew away the Cornwall top order in 12 overs with a display of of superb seam bowling. Gibson running in and bowling quickly, yorked both openers and followed up by bowling two more. Robbins (2-7) beat the bat several times and was rewarded with two wickets, one LBW and the other courtesy of a catch at mid-on by Maria Fowler. At the other end, Gibson completed her five-fer in the sixth over - her first five wicket haul in senior women’s cricket.

Charlie Phillips (1-19) and Lucy Gladdy (2-7) ensured there was no let up for the Cornish batters as they were bowled out for 51 in 23 overs.

Records tumbled and personal achievements were surpassed on the day as Gloucestershire recorded their highest ever 50 over total and their biggest ever winning margin. Abby Evans’ 139 was her highest county score and Danielle Gibson’s 5-17 was her best bowling performance for the county.