ALEX Gidman insists there is still room for improvement from Gloucestershire’s batsmen after they made a positive start to their pre-season campaign.

Gidman scored an unbeaten 150 in their seven-wicket one-day win over Worcestershire at Kidderminster this week as they chased down their target with ten overs to spare after his brother Will helped bowl the hosts out for 255.

It followed Gloucestershire’s three wicket win over Glamorgan in a 50-over friendly at Bristol and a drawn two-day game against Glamorgan at the Swalec Stadium last week, where Gidman scored 40 not out.

He said: “It’s always good to get a few runs under your belt in pre-season, so I’m very happy to have played so well.

“It was another encouraging display by the team. We have batted well in both our 50-over friendlies, but still feel there is more to come.

“Obviously, the NatWest T20 Blast competition comes first, but we are really looking forward to the Royal London One-Day Cup later in the season.”

Thornbury CC product Chris Dent captained Gloucestershire in their opening victory over Glamorgan and smashed 63, including four sixes and seven fours, as they reached their target of 276 with four balls to spare.

Ian Cockbain (74) and Gareth Roderick (74*) put on 112 for the fourth wicket to help Gloucestershire to victory.

Tom Shrewsbury took 2-27 from six overs in Glamorgan’s innings, while Thornbury team-mate Marc Lezar was also named in the squad for the game.

There was an injury scare for Ian Saxelby, who missed out the whole of last season with a shoulder problem, after he was unable to complete an over in the two-day game against Glamorgan due to a niggle in his leg, but it is not thought to be serious.

Gloucestershire batted on a rain-affected first day and reached 111-3 before declaring, before Will Gidman took 2-28 in the home side’s 210-6.

The visitors made 36-2 in their second innings was play stopped due to bad light.