Boys U15s enjoy success at the Teddies 100 Festival
4 July 2023
The Under 15s were victorious at the Teddies 100 festival, where they beat Wales, Hampshire and Oxfordshire to claim the top spot at the festival which was played in the tranquil ground of St Edward's School, Oxford. This was their first outing away from the 50 over format this season and the boys were keen to experiment and test themselves.
Their first outing was against Wales, who notched 144 for 4 in their 100 balls, with captain Lewis Popple amassing 65 from just 40 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes. Opening with a fiery spell for Gloucestershire were Tristan Maree and Jack Freebury who both managed to find some life in the pitch. A special mention to spinner Jonty Taylor who picked up two Welsh wickets to help restrict their total. In reply, Henry Driver Dickerson coming in at 3 marched to the middle and assumed command by hitting sixes to all parts of the ground. Hitting 77 from just 24 balls, his 50 came in just 15. During his innings he amassed 8 sixes and 6 fours and took and took the team to within a whisker of the total before he departed. With a mini collapse which shortly proceeded after this, it was left to Harry Bryan and his long levers to pass the Welsh score. Skipper Logan Bowden played a pivotal supporting role scoring 28. Gloucestershire amassed 190 for 9 in their 100 balls, denying Wales a bowling point.
Game 2 was against Hampshire and again Gloucestershire elected to field first, looking to continue with another successful chase. Restricting Hampshire to 121 for 9 from their 100 balls, Gloucestershire opted for spin as an opening option, with Jonty Taylor taking the new ball with Tristan Maree. Going for under a run a ball, Taylor finished with 1 for 19 from his 20 balls. Under pressure to score, Hampshire made mistakes and lost regular wickets once their second wicket partnership was broken, with Harrison Tegg bagging 2 alongside Max Davidson. Rhys Baker bowled an economical spell, conceding just 8 runs from his 15 balls, picking up 1 wicket along the way. Chasing 122 for victory, the Gloucestershire team settled down to the task with efficiency. Harrison Tegg opened with JJ Kane. Again, getting the boys off to a decent start Tegg was the aggressor hitting 45 from just 24 balls, as the pair brought up the 50 before the loss of the first wicket. Contributions from the rest of the batsmen ensured the team passed their target and progressed to 161 from their 100 balls. Henry Driver Dickerson, Arthur Trotman, Logan Dowden, Jack Benkenstein and Max Davidson all reach double figures to earn the side their second win of the day, before they moved on to play Oxfordshire in their final game.
Gloucestershire were put into bat for their final game against Oxfordshire, a new situation for them to contend with. Openers Henry Driver Dickerson, who had displayed some clean hard hitting earlier in the day and Arthur Trotman looked to set the tone from the start of the innings. This match was to be Trotman's chance to shine and he set about dismantling the Oxfordshire bowlers, utilising all areas of the ground, as he made his way to 101 not out, carrying his bat. Supported by Jack Benkenstein (10) and Harrison Tegg (34), Trotman amassed 18 fours and 1 flat 6 through the cover boundary using just 57 balls to chalk up the milestone. Gloucestershire progressed to score 160 for 4 in their innings leaving Oxfordshire to score at just over 1.5 runs per ball to seal victory. Skipper Logan Bowden returned to pace to open the attack with Tristan Maree and Jack Freebury taking the new ball. Rhys Baker and spinner Benkenstein followed with Baker making the breakthrough. Oxfordshire were on the back foot and struggling to capitalise on the gaps in the field, losing regular wickets as they progressed to 93 for 6 from their allotted overs, with Baker and Benkenstein picking up 2 wickets each.
Written by U15s County Age Group Manager - Chris Germaine