Gloucestershire Under 14 Development v Gwent Under 14 (at Cheltenham College)
Friendly
Gwent 140-7 (45 overs)
Gloucestershire 141-4 (27.3 overs)
Gloucestershire won by six wickets

Gloucestershire’s Under-14 Development squad made a winning start to 2018 with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Wales.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat first Gwent were limited to 140-7 from their 45 overs thanks to a good all-round display from the hosts.

Nine bowlers were used and five took wickets including leg-spinner Waleed Mahmood (Downend) who picked up 2-26.

In reply Gloucestershire lost an early wicket but recovered in style as Joe Durie (Old Bristolians Westbury) smashed 49 off just 44 balls. He scored the lion’s share of the runs in a second wicket stand of 65 with clubmate Mark Wheale (12). The home side then stuttered, losing three wickets for 19 runs – Dan Mosley (3-29) picking up all three.

George Driver-Dickerson (Frampton-on-Severn) and Jake Gaskell (Winterbourne) steadied the ship and saw their side to victory with an unbroken 56-run partnership. Driver-Dickerson finished on 29 not out and Gaskell on 17 not out as they reached their target with 17.3 overs to spare.


Gloucester & Forest Under 13 v Bristol U13 (at Dymock CC)
League
GFOD 148-4 (35 overs)
Bristol 143-6 (35 overs)
GFOD won by five runs


Gloucester & Forest Under 13 overcame Bristol in a hard fought first district match of the season at Dymock CC.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bat, the hosts made a good start led by captain Mike Nixon who made 36 on his home ground.

GFOD drifted in the middle overs, pegged back by accurate bowling from Ahmed Tabraiz (Pak Bristolians) (1-17 from 7 overs) and Jake Wakeling (Radyr) (2-22 from 8).

In hot conditions they found a second wind late on as Caleb White (Kingsholm) launched a punishing attack to finish on 46 not out and help his side reach 148-4 from their 35 overs.

In return GFOD were inconsistent in their bowling early on but began to exert some control through spin twins Kameel Sahabdeen (Chepstow) (4-22) and Alfie Senior (Dymock) (0-19).

The Bristol batsmen dug in before launching a counter attack through Tabraiz (19 not out) and Jake Smith (Bedminster) (35 not out). But despite their heroics it was a case of too little, too late. Bristol were left needing 13 from the last over and six from the last ball but GFOD held their nerves to secure a five-run victory.

GFOD coach York Senior said: “What a great day’s cricket. It was a credit to all involved that such a competitive game was played in a friendly spirit throughout.”

In the other Under 13 district match Stroud and South Gloucestershire (SSG) beat Cheltenham and Cotswolds (C&C) by eight wickets.

Chasing 193 to win, SSG opener George Britton (Carsons and Mangotsfield) carried his bat with an unbeaten 72 (including 12 fours) to see his side home in the 33rd over. He was well supported by Saiyajat Kenche (Thornbury) (36) and Jacob Moore (Painswick) who smashed 35 not out off just 21 balls with seven boundaries.

Earlier Dumbleton pair Toby Jones (53 off 52 balls) and Archie Bailey (45 off 36 balls) added 81 for the fourth wicket to help C&C side to 192-8. SSG bowler Joe Eden-Bull (Hanham) proved the most potent bowler on show, taking 3-50.

Stroud and South Gloucestershire Under 12 v Bristol U12 (at Tockington Manor School)
League
Bristol 100-8 (30 overs)
SSG 101-7 (28 overs)
SSG won by three wickets

SSG got the better of Bristol in a close encounter at Tockington Manor School.

Chasing 101 to win SSG reached their target with three wickets and two overs to spare.

Earlier, Bristol won the toss and elected to bat. But they found runs hard to come by in the early overs as the SSG bowlers maintained a good line and length.

Ben Rivers (Bradley Stoke) broke through early on before Bristol got back on track thanks to good contributions from Oliver Pearson (Brislington) (19), Will Gallagher (Stoke Bishop) 21 and Ben Byas (Twyford House) (15).0 But wickets continued to fall – shared between six different bowlers – as Bristol finished on 100-8 from their 30 overs.

In reply, the SSG openers started well with 24 on the board before Lewis Moss 10 (Frenchay) fell to the impressive Byas (4-19). When Freddie Ridge (Chalford) went for 27 the score was on 69-4. There was still work to do and a tight finish looked on the cards before a very mature knock from Austin Strange (Downend) (30 not out) who struck four late boundaries to reduce the pressure and secure the win with two overs to spare.

In the other Under 12s district match GFOD hung on for a draw with C&C, finishing on 99-8 in pursuit of 175.

Oli Stanley (Slaughters) and William Merrett (Lechlade) both retired after making unbeaten half centuries for C&C.

In reply Painswick’s Sam Szczurek topscored with 19 while Oli Harvey (Dumbleton) and Patrick Mullin (Cirencester) both took 2-13.


Cheltenham and Cotswolds Under 11 v Stroud and South Gloucestershire Under 11
League
C&C 126-6 (30 overs)
SSG 127-4 (29 overs)
SSG won by six wickets


Stroud and South Gloucestershire Under 11s made it two wins out of two with a six-wicket win over Cheltenham and Cotswolds.

Corey Kislingbury (Winterbourne) (21*) and Henry Britton (Carsons and Mangotsfield) (10*) helped their side reach the 127 needed for victory in the penultimate over in a run chase of twists and turns.

C&C lost the toss and batting first posted 126-6 thanks to 26 not out from Adam Ryder (Cheltenham) and 22 from wicketkeeper Ben Richards (Bourton Vale). Tight bowling from SSG meant the C&C batsmen were never quite able to get on top. Frocester’s Simon Fance (2-10) and Kislingbury (2-5) were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets apiece.

In response, SSG got off to a good start through Thornbury pair Zain Syed (17) and Anir Sanat.

They were well placed after the first 10 overs but the next 10 overs were won by the C&C bowlers who restricted their opponents to 20 runs in that period although just one more wicket fell.

With 10 overs left and 64 runs needed, the SSG batsman went on the attack. The loss of Sanat for 29 brought Kislingbury to the wicket and the hard hitting batsman put the C&C fielders under pressure from the off. C&C were unable to respond as SSG hit the winning runs in the 29th over.

The previous week SSG beat GFOD by 108 runs in their opening match of the season. The win was set up by Seb Vamplew (66) (Winterbourne) and Harry Eccott (79*) (Bradley Stoke) who put on 139 for the fourth wicket as their side made 203-7 from their 30 overs. Opening bowler Fin Williamson (Down Hatherley) was the main man for GFOD with 4-18 from his four overs.

Chasing an imposing total, GFOD lost wickets at regular intervals throughout their innings and were eventually bowled out for 95 in the 27th over. Isaac Williams (Dymock) top scored with 19 while Sam French (Frocester) and Ben Brown (Hanham) both picked up two wickets.