Gloucestershire Under 14 Boys v Somerset Under 14 Boys (at Cheltenham College)
ECB U14 Cup Group 3
Gloucestershire 217 all out (46.3 overs)
Somerset 144 all out (43.1 overs)
Gloucestershire won by 73 runs

A magnificent 93 from 73 balls (11 fours, 4 sixes) by Charlie Brennan (Bristol) dug Gloucestershire out of trouble and sent them on their way to a 73 run victory over Somerset.

Coming in at 70-6, Brennan’s counter-attacking innings changed the course of the game as Gloucestershire posted 217 before bowling the visitors out for 144.

The all-rounder combined monstrous slog sweeps and imperious drives on the up, to record his highest county score and maintain his side’s 100 per cent start to the season.

Earlier Gloucestershire lost the toss and found it tough early on as the Somerset seamers got the ball to nip around in drizzly conditions. Skipper Nick Schubach (6) (Dumbleton) fell with the score on 11 but his team recovered with a gutsy 31 run partnership between Praneel Choughule (Thornbury) and Will Hope (Great Rissington) before the latter became the first victim of left arm spinner Callum Harvey for 16.

Choughule (30) started to accelerate after the 17 over drinks break but fell soon after, caught at midwicket off Aman Rao to make it 53-3. This sparked a middle order collapse as Gloucestershire slipped to 70-6, contributing to their own downfall with some poor decision-making on a pitch that still offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers.

The tall figure of Brennan came to the crease with his side in trouble and, full of confidence after an unbeaten 60 the previous week, he didn’t take long to get into his stride. He took a particular liking to spinner Max Horton, hoisting him for a number of huge sixes over deep midwicket to turn the momentum back Gloucestershire’s way.

At the other end Gloucestershire lost two further wickets and at 111-8 were in danger of leaving Brennan high and dry. But the Bristol-man found a willing ally in his new ball partner Will Gilderson (Dumbleton) who batted with maturity to support his free-scoring team mate. Together the pair put on 90 for the ninth wicket before Gilderson was dismissed for a valuable 21.

By this time Brennan was beginning to tire and he eventually fell seven runs short of what would have been a richly deserved hundred as he became the last man out with the score on 217.

Having starred with the bat, Brennan and Gilderson then looked to do the same with the ball. After a slightly loose start, Gilderson made the breakthrough, removing Charlie Sharland (8) with a superb delivery that nipped back off the seam to hit the stumps and make it 27-1.

Gloucestershire continued to chip away with wickets at regular intervals as they set about trying to build pressure through the middle overs. Stan Brown (2-19) (Cheltenham) struck twice and there was a wicket each for the miserly Johnny Edwards (1-10) (Frocester) and legspinner Alex Oliver as Somerset crumbled to 66-5. They fought back with a patient partnership of 50 between Josh Thomas (23) and Michael McNee (23).

But Gloucestershire stuck to their guns and were rewarded when Choughule (2-23) ended the sixth wicket stand by removing Thomas for 23 soon after the 34 over drinks break. He struck again in his next over and with the scent of victory in their nostrils the home side brought back opening bowlers Brennan and Gilderson (2-24) to finish the job. And they duly did so. Both took a wicket each before, fittingly, Brennan (2-23) had the final say as Somerset were bowled out for 144 in the 44th over.

Worcestershire Under 17 v Gloucestershire Under 17 Boys (at Royal Grammar and Alice Ottley School)
ECB U17 Cup Group 4A
Worcestershire 226 all out (47.3 overs)
Gloucestershire 227-2(40.5 overs)
Gloucestershire won by 8 wickets

Ollie Price and Ben Charlesworth shared in a stand of 158 as Gloucestershire cruised to an eight wicket victory over Worcestershire.

Coming together at 58-1, skipper Price made 80 not out and Charlewsorth scored 85 to help their side reach their target of 227 for the loss of just two wickets.

Opener Milo Ayres (Brislington) also made a crucial contribution, smashing 53 from just 27 balls (9 fours, 1 six) to get the Gloucestershire run chase off to a flying start.

Earlier Worcestershire won the toss and chose to bat first. But they lost an early wicket when Charlesworth (2-22) trapped Daniel Holland LBW to make it 7-1.

The home side recovered to 51 before the introduction of legspinner Alex Russell (2-35) (Frocester) accounted for Jack Haynes (31). Worcestershire put themselves in the ascendency with a third wicket partnership of 86 between Xavier Clarke (72) and captain Zain Ul Hassan (32) before the latter became Russell’s second victim. Robbie Hardwick came in at number five and smashed 46 from just 32 balls to inject some impetus into the innings. But Gloucestershire continued to chip away with regular wickets to bowl the hosts out with 15 balls remaining. Jack Worgan (Corse and Staunton) (2-30), Ollie Price (2-35) and Daaryoush Ahmed (Bristol YMCA) (2-60) all took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Ayres caused his now customary havoc in the opening overs as he took full advantage of the fielding restrictions with some powerful hitting. By the time he fell with the score on 58 he had made 53 of the runs on his own.

The supercharged start afforded Price and Charlesworth with plenty of time and they duly took advantage with a superb partnership of 158 to take Gloucestershire within reach of victory.

Charlesworth fell with 11 more required but Price remained steadfast to steer his side home.