Captain Parfitt proud after Glamorgan T20 triumph

Glamorgan captain Lauren Parfitt said she is "incredibly proud" of her team after they defeated Gloucestershire by 32 runs to win their first piece of silverware.

Despite a nervy ending, they held on to bowl out Gloucestershire for 122 runs to win the Vitality Blast Women's League 2 title in the Cardiff sunshine.

After disappointment in last years T20 Blast semi-final, Parfitt is proud that her team-mates were rewarded for their hard work.

"I'm incredibly proud of a group of girls who work incredibly hard behind the scenes on their skillsets," said Parfitt.

"Winning is what everyone wants to do so we were glad to get ourselves over the line in what was a really competitive final.

"Our aim is to win trophies, play good cricket, and we've done that today so I'm really happy with the result."

Despite their victory, the hosts were forced to work hard to get a foot-hold in the match. Opening batters Parfitt and Daisy Jeanes were dismissed early on in the first innings to put the pressure on.

But a strong performance from the third wicket stand of Bethan Gammon - who top scored with 69 - and Megan Sturge, alongside some impressive bowling, built Glamorgan the foundation to close out the match.

"What a partnership it was to get us to a total that we were happy with," added Parfitt.

"Our bowlers then backed it up, there was a tricky period in the middle but they held their nerve.

"We fielded incredibly well today and took all the catches that we needed to get us over the line."

Glamorgan already have one eye on next year, when they will play their first season as a professional outfit.

Parfitt, who has been one of their standout players this season, and her teammates will have to adapt to facing a higher calibre of opposition as they move into Tier One.

However, first they have this season's One Day Cup, which Parfitt believes will help them prepare for that step-up in 2027.

"We're really excited with the place that we've put ourselves in," said Parfitt.

"We finish the season with 50 over cricket so that will put us in good stead going into next season."

Head coach Rachel Priest was also delighted at her sides success in the T20 final, having earlier watched Gloucestershire beat Kent in a semi-final eliminator which preceded the final on a double-header day at Sophia Gardens.

"It was a really interesting day, " said former New Zealand international Priest.

"It was tough for the girls to wait around all day not knowing who we were going to play in the final.

"It was a real rollercoaster today and it was good for the fans but not good for my heart rate.

"We needed people to dig in and they did, I think for Gammon to get that score in a final was exceptional and that's an innings that will be remembered for a long time."

Having claimed a memorable, maiden trophy, plans are well underway for the new challenges facing Glamorgan's women next season.

Priest knows the step up to Tier One will not be easy.

"Our main focus is putting a squad together that can be really competitive," she added.

"We are under no illusions, it's going to be very tough for a few years, going up to Tier One is a huge step up and we've seen that when we've played those teams.

"But we're preparing the girls as best we can and the way they've been putting in performances, it's making our job really hard to give those contracts out at the end of the season."