GLOUCESTERSHIRE CCC kicked their season into life last week as the team defeated Holland in Amsterdam for a place in the third round of the C&G Trophy.

Mark Alleyne's side, the holders of the cup, have endured an indifferent start to the 2004 campaign which has seen them struggle in the Frizzell County Championship Division One following their promotion last year. The club has also been blighted by the continued absence of new overseas pair Shoaib Malik and Shabbir Ahmed, whose extended involvement with the Pakistan international team has cost Alleyne thus far.

However, the shaky start that the team has made was quickly forgotten in the wake of the Amsterdam triumph, as Gloucestershire defeated a national team who had competed at last year's World Cup. They will now face Hampshire at the County Ground on Saturday, May 29, as they bid to retain the trophy they won in a thrilling final against Worcestershire at Lord's last summer.

Phil Weston was the hero last week in a 72-run victory that saw Gloucestershire dominate the Dutch. This was the county's first win of the season and followed on from two defeats in their opening two Totesport League matches.

A third-wicket stand of 139 between opener Weston and Matt Windows was the highlight of Gloucestershire's innings of 264-6, a total that never looked like being in danger.

Having got over the loss of last season's highest scorer Craig Spearman, who departed for 39, fellow opener Weston hauled the County Ground side towards a worthy total with his 106. Windows' 62 was the principal support act, but there was a string of disappointing shows at the crease from some of the county's main players. The hugely promising Alex Gidman continued his lack of good form by departing for a duck, while new four-day captain Chris Taylor and head coach Alleyne both fell for two and a duck respectively.

Summer signing Steve Adshead, deputising for the injured Jack Russell, made 17*.

However, Gloucestershire's attack made relatively short work of demolishing the Holland line-up, with Alleyne in particular catching the eye as he accounted for big hitters Dan Van Bunge, Bas Zuiderent and Tim de Leede in his first four overs, finishing with 4-33.

Indeed, the Dutch order was quickly diminished by the high velocity bowling of seamers Mike Smith, Jon Lewis and James Averis as a healthy victory margin opened up to the visitors.

The ever-popular and dependable spinner Martyn Ball cleaned up the Dutch tail as the home side finished on 192 all out, and suddenly things looked a whole lot brighter for Alleyne's men as their season finally got going with this confidence-boosting victory.

Weston's century, his third in limited-overs cricket, may have been the highlight, but the sight of more than 500 travelling supporters in the VRA Ground in Amsterdam turned the match into an incredible occasion as Gloucestershire stormed into the third round of the competition.

There was also some good news awaiting the team on their return to England as Malik and Ahmed finally declared their availability to the squad, bringing Gloucestershire virtually up to full strength for this weekend's Totesport League game against Surrey at Bristol.

l Gloucestershire's C&G Trophy third round game against Hampshire is at the County Ground on Saturday, May 29, beginning at 10.45am. For further details or to book a ticket in advance contact the club's ticket office on 0117 9108010.