Academy match report
11/05/2011
On May Bank Holiday weekend Gloucestershire Academy had another busy weekend of fixtures, with Thornbury CC on Saturday and Millfield school on Sunday.
Saturday -
Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat and got off to a real flyer with Craig Miles 92 and Alex Spencer continuing his good from 54. They put on a strong opening partnership of 150 for the first wicket before Spencer fell to a fine catch by Richard Trotman at first slip. Miles struck the ball fluently before again falling to another good catch this time to Gloucestershire’s part time academy player Sam Bracey, who took an excellent catch standing up off seamer for Thornbury. Jack Taylor batting at 3 played some fantastic strokes in a whirlwind 61 off just 21 deliveries but failed to go and make a century.
Toward the end of the innings Kieron Smith and Josh Megson produced a valuable 5th wicket stand of 60, seeing Smith finish on 28* and Megson run out off the last delivery of the innings. Gloucestershire Academy closed on 288-6.
Thornbury were soon in trouble when Liam Norwell took 2 early wickets and Ryan Adams took 1 reducing Thornbury to 9-3. They continued to lose wicket quickly when 14 year old Olly Strong, making his debut for Gloucestershire Academy, found the edge of Sam Braceys’ bat and James Fuller took a good catch at gully. The game looked certain to go the way of the academy when Thornbury were 76-6. However, in came Thornbury captain Richard Trotman, showing the youngsters on both sides how to construct a high quality innings and played strokes all-round the ground and produced a match winning 159 not out. This saw Thornbury win the game 8 wickets down with 3 balls remaining. Richard’s innings showed all of the players that it is not just about getting in but about making a match winning 3 figure score when you get the opportunity.
It was an excellent day’s cricket no doubt all players will learn from this.
Sunday –
Gloucestershire Academy won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that appeared to be hard and bouncy and had the potential of a very high scoring game. After 6 overs with Gloucestershire on 39-0 this high scored on the cards, however again no Gloucestershire players managed to capitalise seeing 4 players make scores of 20+ with none going on. Top scorer was 15 year old Lloyd Evans who made 28 playing some excellent straight drives. When Lloyd fell Gloucestershire looked to be in trouble before Nathan Hill struck the ball well but again was out for 21. Josh Wingfield hit 14 off the last over and Gloucestershire finished 195-9 off their 50 overs, a score that looked well below par.
With such a small total on the board Gloucestershire had to start off well with the ball and brothers Jack and Matthew Taylor restricted Millfield early on and proved the undoing of opening batsman Ellison when younger brother Matt found the edge and Jack took a fine catch at first slip. When Josh Wingfield then removed Kent’s latest signing Daniel Bell Drummond for 16 the game became interesting.
Wingfield quickly took another wicket and with the introduction of Josh Megson 2 more wickets fell and Millfield were 95-5. Some clean hitting by D Lewis-Williams turned the game with opening batter Hopper proving a vital stay for Millfield and his calmness at one end made it difficult for Gloucestershire’s young bowlers. Matt Taylor came back in his second spell and struck twice and then when Jack Taylor got the 8th wicket Gloucestershire looked like they may win, but the cool head of Hopper saw Millfield over the line and he pulled Wingfield for 6 over deep-square to win the game.
Gloucestershire would like to thank both Thornbury Cricket Club and Millfield for 2 fantastic days cricket and their hospitality.
The next Academy fixture on 15th May at Gloucestershire’s partnership school Wycliffe College has been postponed.
