Gloucestershire Under 17 Boys v Somerset Under 17 Boys (at Bath CC)
ECB U17 Cup – Group 4A
Somerset 260 all out (41.4 overs)
Gloucestershire 262-3 (39.2 overs)
Gloucestershire won by 7 wickets
Scorecard

AND

Gloucestershire Under 17 Boys v Worcestershire Under 17 Boys (at Rockhampton CC)
ECB U17 Cup – Group 4A
Gloucestershire 261-8 (50 overs)
Worcestershire 263-2 (47.5 overs)
Worcestershire won by 8 wickets
Scorecard

Gloucestershire U17s started their Royal London Cup campaign with a defeat to Worcestershire and a resounding win over Somerset.

The 7 wicket victory over their local rivals at Bath CC club was decided by an outstanding 201 run partnership between 15-year-old Will Naish (138) (Frocester) and 14-year-old Tommy Boorman (77 not out) (Dumbleton) who batted with composure and skill to help their side chase down their target of 261 in the 40th over.

The pair came together when opener Daz Ahmed (9) (Bishopston) was bowled by Ned Leonard with the score on 18. They immediately turned the pressure on their opponents by clinically picking off every scoring opportunity that came their way. Naish moved through the gears, striking the ball with impressive power. When he was out for 138 he had hit 16 fours and 8 sixes in a superb display of controlled aggression. The loss of Naish did not deter Boorman and he led his side home, supported by Ewan Gegg (Frocester) who finished unbeaten on 23.

Earlier, Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to insert Somerset. But they were put on the back foot as openers Charlie Reed (50) and Sharland (35) took the attack to the visitors, scoring at a run a ball in an opening stand of 70.

It was the introduction of Luke Charlesworth (2-31) and Joe Millard (3-25) (Bedminster) which swung the innings back Gloucestershire’s way, backed up by some fine slip catching by Ahmed. Both seamers put Somerset under real pressure and with Ahmed (2-19) also chipping in with a couple of wickets Somerset found themselves 160-8. The game swung again thanks to a counter-attacking ninth wicket partnership of before the hosts were finally bowled out for a competitive 261.

However once Naish and Boorman were in full flow it was never going to be enough as Gloucestershire eased home with 10 overs to spare.

Two days earlier Gloucestershire suffered an 8 wicket defeat to Worcestershire despite a superbly constructed 136 off 149 balls (17 fours) from opener Daz Ahmed.

Reflecting on the first two matches, Gloucestershire head of talent pathway and Under 17 coach Tim Hancock said: “It was lovely to see Daz Ahmed play an innings of such authority – he looked like a proper player. I thought at the halfway stage that we had a competitive score but Worcestershire batted very well.

“Against Somerset it was satisfying to see two young players bat so well and play with such skill and determination to get the job done. It was a nice confidence boost for the team after the defeat to Worcestershire but as a fielding and bowling unit we have to be able to absorb pressure better than we have done in the first two games.”

Gloucestershire Under 15 Boys v Berkshire Under 15 Boys (at Wokingham CC)
ECB County Cup Group 4A
Berkshire 104 all out (46.1 overs)
Gloucestershire 107-3 (24.1 overs)
Gloucestershire won by 7 wickets
Scorecard

And

Gloucestershire Under 15 Boys v Cornwall Under 15 Boys (at Newent CC)
ECB County Cup Group 4A
Gloucestershire 289-7 (45 overs)
Cornwall 155 all out (39.4 overs)
Gloucestershire won by 134 runs
Scorecard

Gloucestershire Under 15 Boys moved to the top of their ECB Cup group with two emphatic wins from their opening two matches.

Against Cornwall George Driver-Dickerson (Rockhampton) made his maiden county century – 100 not out – from just 89 balls to help his side post 289-7. Coming in at number four he shared in a third wicket stand of 75 with opener Praneel Choughule (74 from 83 balls) (Thornbury). There was also an important contribution of 37 from 19 balls from Joe Durie (Old Bristolians Westbury) towards the end.

In reply Cornwall made a positive start, reaching 48-0 but collapsed from 125-2 to 155 all out. Fast bowler Charlie Brennan (Bristol) took 4-23 and there were two apiece for Choughule (2-32) and Will Hope (Great Rissington) (2-31).

Against Berkshire, Gloucestershire lost the toss on a used pitch and were asked to bowl. They made a perfect start through spinner Ryan Kilmister (Dumbleton) who took a wicket in the very first over of the game, dismissing Rhys Lewis without troubling the scorers.

Bowling was always going be hard work, on a lifeless pitch but Brennan used his pace to upset the batsmen before being replaced by Rhys Price (Thornbury) who bowled an excellent spell, and made it 30-2 when he had Ishaq caught by Oliver Elliott (Cheltenham) for 15. Price ended with 1-6 from six overs, including three maidens. Berkshire wickets fell at regular intervals from then on including an excellent run out from Sami Hamid (Winterborne) and an athletic catch by Brennan, off Alex Oliver (1-20) (Tewkesbury) to make it 44-5.

Now under pressure the hosts continued to lose regular wickets as Choughule (2-11) and Hope (2-12) both chipped in with a couple of wickets each. Berkshire were eventually bowled out in the 47th over for 104.

Chasing 105 to win, Gloucestershire got down to business quickly, scoring five an over for the first 6 overs, with Choughule and Hope looking comfortable. Choughule was the first man out – bowled for 30 – but Hope continued to lead the charge before being run out for 48. Gloucestershire reached their target three wickets down to move to the top of their ECB cup group with a 100% record from their first matches.

Captain Sami Hamid said: “It was a good performance by the lads this afternoon. We had excellent presence in the field and from the first ball we took the game to them, putting them under pressure. There is still work to do and we can get better. Next week we play Wiltshire, where we hope to improve still further.”

Gloucestershire Under 10 Boys v Warwickshire Under 10 Boys (at Sheepsombe CC)
Friendly
Gloucestershire 184 all out (34.4 overs)
Warwickshire 129-6 (35 overs)
Gloucestershire won by 55 runs
Scorecard

Gloucestershire Under 10s opened their account for the season with 55 run win over Warwickshire at Sheepsombe CC’s beautiful Laurie Lee Field.
The ground, perched high on the hills above the village with its breath-taking views, proved a fitting setting for some eye-catching cricket as the home side posted 184 before restricting the visitors to 129-6 in reply.

Warwickshire won the toss and after electing to field first, reduced Gloucestershire to 27-2 through some accurate bowling early on. Arthur Sweeting (Dumbleton) led the recovery, showing positive attacking intent from the outset including punching one through mid-wicket for his first boundary. Ed Bordeaux (Bristol YMCA) initially played the foil to Sweeting’s lead but as time went on both players attacked anything short and struck some fine strokes in a fantastic partnership of 83 for the third wicket.

Sweeting finally fell, run out, for a brilliant 68 which included 52 runs in boundaries at better than a run a ball. Bordeaux batted on but eventually fell just two runs short of what would have been a well-deserved half century. Ryan Rice (Lodway) played a perfect cameo innings at 7, scoring 23 from 21 to help his side reach an impressive 184.

In reply, Gloucestershire’s bowlers restricted their opponents with tight lines and lengths and never allowed them to get on top. The home side eventually used 10 bowlers as Warwickshire fell 55 runs short. Six wickets fell – including two run outs – as Gloucestershire ran out comfortable winners.