MICHELLE Kilmister led out Dumbleton Cricket Club’s first ever senior women’s team against Bourton Vale in front of a record 120 spectators at Dairy Lane.

And Dumbleton tasted success, wrapping up a well-deserved 58-run triumph in an excellent league contest.

Expectation was high among the crowd as a mixture of youth and more senior players took to the field.

Bourton Vale captain Naomi Hodkinson had earlier won the toss, put Dumbleton in to bat and opened the bowling.

A boundary off the first ball was greeted with a cheer from the home supporters only to be silenced a couple of balls later when Hodkinson took a caught and bowled.

An excellent knock from Kilmister (50no) with strong support from Sarah Johnson (9) and Sarah Gilderson (20no) helped lay down a competitive score of 117-7 in 20 overs.

After the interval, Dumbleton’s young guns led the bowling attack. The Vale openers looked confident for the first couple of overs before Amy Johnson took a wicket with her first ball of the fifth over before snapping up four wickets for just seven runs.

Once Fleck captured the wicket of Hodkinson the game turned in Dumbleton’s favour. Some good bowling was returned by Hannah Jones (2-5), Kilmister (2-13) and Fleck (2-18) with good support in the field. Bourton were eventually dismissed for 59.

Kilmister said: “It was an amazing team performance.”

Dumbleton’s match against Poulton was far closer, eventually decided in the 19th over, when Kilmister (40 not out) helped chase down Poulton’s total of 93-8 to win by six wickets. Cirencester, Slaughters, Langford and Charlton Kings are also involved in the competition.

Dumbleton Cricket Club are hosting a six-week beginners’ softball introduction for girls starting on Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8pm at Dairy Lane. For details, e-mail:guystirlinglee@gmail.com Harvington Cricket Club are involved in a new initiative aimed at introducing more boys and girls to the sport aged between five and eight years old.

All Stars Cricket is being rolled out nationally by the England and Wales Cricket Board who want to make sure the next generation of cricket enthusiasts get off to a great start.

Children taking part will receive a personalised set of kit before the first session at Harvington’s Anchor Lane ground on Wednesday, May 24 from 4pm to 4.45pm.

For more details on All Stars Cricket, call club chairman Trevor Knowles on 07967152394 or visit allstarscricket.co.uk to register an interest.