Match Report: Gloucestershire Women vs. Kent Women

Kent Women were in action at the 2026 Towergate Cheltenham Cricket Festival as they took on Gloucestershire Women in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

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Match report supplied by Ben Holliday, Kent Sports News

Five wickets from Izzy James and an unbeaten 57 from Kelly Castle secured a comprehensive win against Gloucestershire, who were victorious against Kent in their previous two meetings this season in the T20 Blast.

5 for 18 from Izzy James on a spinning pitch spearheaded the victory as the hosts were bundled out for 106 in 24 overs. Emily Geach’s 28 was the highest score, with only three other batters making double figures.

The Kent reply began steadily with 44 runs from the openers in 14 overs, but the acceleration came after the second wicket went down as the visitors reached the target after 23.2 overs with Castle and Elsa Barnfather securing the victory.

Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat, but they lost the prize wicket of Amelie Munday in the first over. She played a loose shot to Gorham’s away-swinger and was caught by Hollie Young for 0.

Georgina Start followed two balls later as she was trapped lbw to Hannah Hardwick for 1.

With the home side reeling at 8 for 2 in the second over, they opted to attack, perhaps fearing the used pitch could be difficult to survive on. Emily Geach struck four boundaries from Hardwick’s first two overs as they quickly raced to 36 for 2 from the first four overs.

Sydney Gorham then bowled Izzy Storrar for 11 in the fifth over, before the new batter Izzy Patel struck three fours from Hardwick’s next over to continue the counterattack.

Genevieve Jeer was brought into the attack and struck in her first over, getting Patel to edge a wide delivery behind for 13.

With the score on 55 for 4 and 41 overs remaining, the hosts needed a partnership from the captain, Liv Daniels and the well-set Geach. The pair were more cautious and moved the scoring on gradually over the next five overs.

Horses skipper, Megan Belt then turned to spin and instantly the wearing, dry pitch produced prodigious turn for leg-spinner Izzy James.

James broke the partnership with her spin causing Daniels to mis-time a shot. She was caught by Belt for 8.

Geach followed in James’ next over as she clipped the ball straight back to the bowler for 28.

With James and Belt operating, the turning ball proved difficult to score against and the wickets continued to fall quickly.

James’ next two victims were Char Phillips and Alice Hill, who were both caught for 2 and 0 respectively.

Belt picked up the wicket of Charlie Phillips, who was bowled beautifully through the gate for 4, leaving Gloucestershire on 101 for 9 from 21 overs.

There was some resistance from the final pair, who survived a few overs with Caitlin Belcher trying to protect Alice Bird at number 11.

James deservedly picked up her fifth wicket to end the innings in the 24^th over. Belcher attempted a lofted shot over mid-on but was caught by Hannah Hardwick for 12.

Gloucestershire ended their innings on 106 all out from 24 overs.

With the required run-rate at 2.14, Kent opted to bat cautiously, scoring 15 runs from the first five overs without loss.

The first signs of aggression came from Kelly Castle, who hit two fours from Hill’s first over.

Gloucestershire should have had a wicket in the ninth over as Charlie Phillips dropped a caught and bowled chance when bowling to Coco Streets, who was on 9.

Consecutive maidens left Kent on 33 for 0 at the end of the powerplay.

Two fours from Streets in the 11^th over got the scoreboard ticking again but, as with the first innings, spin was proving difficult to face.

Daniels made the breakthrough for the home side as Streets was caught by Bird for 20. Having faced 40 deliveries, the shot seemed to come out of frustration over the scoring rate.

New batter Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones almost followed the very next ball as she played a lofted shot that just fell over the fielder.

Blinkhorn-Jones fell a couple of overs later, bowled by Daniels round her legs, having shuffled across to the offside to attempt a big shot.

Elsa Barnfather and Kelly Castle began to play more aggressively, looking to chase the total quickly before they got an unplayable ball. The score moved from 46 to 83 in five overs with Barnfather hitting two fours from her first three deliveries.

There were miscued aerial shots from the Kent batters, but fortune favoured them as the ball kept landing safely.

Barnfather was dropped by Belcher while on 18, but with the score at 87 for 2, victory seemed secure for Kent.

Castle reached her 50 in the 22^nd over with consecutive fours from Alice Bird’s first over.

Victory was secured in the 24^th over as Barnfather heaved the ball four over short fine leg. She ended on 28* and Castle on 57*.

With a bonus point secured in addition to the win, Kent secured a place in the top four to give them another chance of securing silverware.