BERKSHIRE women endured mixed fortunes in their two Twenty20 Division Two games on Sunday, beating Gloucestershire before losing to unbeaten Cricket Wales, writes Richard Ashton.

Gloucestershire asked Berkshire to bat in the opening match at Dumbleton. Openers Emily Cunningham (28) and skipper Amanda Potgeiter gave them a steady start until the former was dismissed with the score on 36. Phoebe Graham was next to go for eight before Potgeiter was caught off Helen Cutler for 21.

Rachel Hardy became Cutler’s (3-21) third wicket with the score on 80, but an excellent cameo from Lauren Bell (21no from 20 balls) helped her side reach 110-4.

Millie Allerton’s excellent stumping helped Emma Walker remove Gloucestershire opener Chloe Skelton for four, but captain Abigal Evans and Natasha Wraith rebuilt with a 29-runs second-wicket partnership.

However, from 46-1, the Gloucestershire innings imploded as Hardy (3-8), Walker (3-10) and Phoebe Graham (2-10) turned the screw to dismiss their opponents for just 73 and a 37-run victory.

Berkshire had less success in their second game, going down to a 24 run defeat to second-placed Cricket Wales – who recorded a fourth consecutive victory.

Wales chose to bat but lost Rachel Priest with the score on 16, bowled by Bell, before Hardy removed Gabby Basketter to leave them 28-2.

Graham (3-26) and Cunningham (2-18) ran through the middle order and when the latter had Wales skipper Lauren Parfitt caught and bowled, the batting side were rocking on 85-6.

However, Danielle Wilson (31 from 25 balls) played a match-defining innings only ended by Hardy (2-29), and her side eventually battled their way to 132-9.

Berkshire lost Potgieter for seven in reply, and with Cunningham (18) and Graham (14) making starts, but not pushing on, the game was evenly poised at 72-4.

However, the departure of Bell for an excellent 35 from 29 balls left Berkshire with too much to do, and the lower order could only get their side to 108-8.

The results leave Berkshire sixth in the table, with home games at North Maidenhead against table-toppers Hampshire (4.30pm) and Durham (10.30am) this coming Sunday.