Entertainment Swindon

Glamorgan and Wiltshire cricket teams were involved in a double-header against on Friday 30th May with both their men’s and women’s teams in back-to-back showcase 20 overs games at the County Ground in Swindon.

The mens showcase match followed an exciting women’s match that saw Glamorgan win 165-1 runs against Wiltshire’s 88-5, with Bethan Gammon hitting 85 runs and Parfitt 72 runs, against the young Wiltshire side, chosen in the Girls Academy and the Pathway Programme, based at Sophia Gardens.

The Glamorgan Women’s team leading into Friday’s match had already enjoyed plenty of success in their white ball matches, over both 50 and 20 overs.

Following the successful hosting of a Men’s 1^st XI 50 over fixture between Glamorgan and Wiltshire in 2024, Swindon Cricket Club, again played host to a slightly different showcase day this time round. Both of Wiltshire’s Women’s and Men’s 1^st XI teams competed in T20 fixtures against the Glamorgan Women and Men respectively for the first time.

The introduction of the fixture between the two Women’s teams represented the continuity of a thriving partnership between the two counties that was announced in 2024. 2025 see’s the launch of the new Women’s Domestic structure with Wiltshire’s Women competing in Division 1 of the new Tier 3 competition structure. However, a hugely important feature of the new structure has been the alignment of Wiltshire with Glamorgan’s Tier 1 Academy and Pathway structure; a structure that has seen the creation of the first ever Girls EPP in Wiltshire, co-delivered in Wiltshire by coaches from the two counties, as well as the selection of several Wiltshire players for the full Glamorgan Academy.

Glamorgan Women won the toss and elected to bat, with an exciting match, where Wiltshire played hard, but Glamorgan were too strong, winning 165 Runs to 88 Runs, winning by 77.

After the ladies, came time for the mens teams with Wiltshire wining the toss and deciding to field. Wiltshire’s team started strong, with their spin bowlers taking command of the match. First to go, was Kiran Carlson was run out attempting a second run, with just 9 runs acquired. Wiltshire kept up the pressure with Glamorgan scoring just 96 runs from 8 wickets after 14 overs. It looked like Glamorgan would need to hit back hard when Wiltshire took to batting, but the Welsh side found its pace with Andy Gorvin and Ned Leonard adding an unbeaten 69 runs from 39 balls which changed everything, with Leonard hitting three huge sixes.

Glamorgan notched up 165 runs by the end of the 20 overs, before taking to bowling.

As soon as Wiltshire took to batting, they started as they did bowling, strong and notching up runs at a great pace, with Tom Cheater notched up several sixes in the opening overs, Swindon born batter, Jake Goodwin added to the score board with 21 off 14 balls.

The Glamorgan fielders held their nerve, and eventually turning the pressure to Wiltshires batters. But in the final over, it really looked like Wiltshire would just clinch the win. The final score from the 20 overs was Wiltshire (165) vs (165) Glamorgan.

It was therefore down to deciding the final score with a super over. Wiltshire took to batting first with 13 runs, with Glamorgan coming in next with it still going right to the wire, with Glamorgan’s Kerr and Douthwaite pairing up to hit a couple of sixes, ending with 16 runs to win over Wiltshire.