Will Williams, the latest addition to Gloucestershire’s squad, made an immediate impact by taking impressive bowling figures of 4-5 against Hampshire during a two-day match on the county’s South Africa tour.
The 32-year-old New Zealand-born pacer joined Gloucestershire on a three-year contract after completing a three-year spell at Lancashire. In the match, Williams dismissed key batsmen Joe Weatherley, Nick Gubbins, Tom Prest, and Toby Albert, finishing with figures of 9-6-5-4 as Hampshire posted 136-6 off 50 overs. Craig Miles and Ed Middleton claimed the other wickets, while Ali Orr top-scored with 54.
Gloucestershire responded with a strong batting effort, reaching 257-7 in 80 overs. James Bracey stood out with 87 runs including 14 boundaries, and Miles Hammond contributed 75 off 83 balls featuring nine fours and three sixes. Middleton added a steady 32. Hampshire’s second innings saw them reach 126-2 in 30 overs.
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The teams also contested a shorter format game with two innings of 20 overs each. Gloucestershire started with 63-3, with Tommy Boorman unbeaten on 34. Hampshire replied with 69-2, with Nick Gubbins unbeaten on 41. Wickets were taken by Dexter Trego, son of former Somerset player Peter Trego, and Hammond. Gloucestershire’s second innings yielded 96-4, driven by Boorman’s 29 and Graeme van Buuren’s 28, while Hampshire reached 76-2 in their final innings.
The tour continues with matches against Northamptonshire in various formats. The Gloucestershire squad will be based in Stellenbosch for 13 days, combining outdoor training and matches to build match-level fitness in warm conditions.
Director of Cricket Jon Lewis praised the tour, stating, “This is an excellent preparation tour for the team. Training in warm weather, with access to top-class facilities and facing high-calibre opposition, allows our players to get ready for the challenges of the County Championship. It’s not just about getting physically fit; it’s also vital for building team cohesion to compete at our best from the season opener.”
New talent Dexter Trego, aged 18, joined the squad after impressing on a recent UAE tour with Gloucestershire’s Talent Pathway under head coach Paul Muchall. New T20 signing Dawid Malan is also expected to join the squad during the tour.
Upon returning to England, Gloucestershire will face Hampshire again in a two-day fixture at the Utilita Bowl on March 24 and 25, and then travel to Loughborough University for a three-day match. The County Championship season begins on April 3 against Middlesex at Lord’s, followed by the first home game against Durham on April 10.
Key players are also concluding strong seasons abroad: red-ball captain Cameron Bancroft wrapped up the Sheffield Shield with Western Australia, scoring 674 runs including a century and five fifties, finishing as the competition’s second-highest run-scorer. Fast bowler Gabe Bell, joining Gloucestershire for the first six Championship matches, ended the Shield season with 32 wickets, the sixth-best tally. Australian all-rounder Liam Scott, set to participate in the T20 Blast and two Championship games later in the summer, has taken 23 wickets and scored 496 runs, helping South Australia to the Sheffield Shield final.