U14s Boys County Age Group - 2023 Season Review & Award Winners
23 October 2023
Following a positive and progressive indoor winter programme the U14s embraced the ECB County Cup; a comfortable warm up win against Devon, Nikash Choughule 56, Will Sweeting 51 and an impressive 8 wkt opening cup match win, also against Devon, 3 wkts each for Stanley Norton and Amogh Sugur, Noah Bennett 53 NO.
2 loses ensued, indifferent decision making and execution against Somerset and Berkshire, but a notable 5-25 for Arthur Sweeting. This provided great opportunity for condensed development and learning at the Taunton Festival. A challenging start, 32-6 against Herefordshire but a good fight provided by the bowling attack, Rishi Ayyapan 3-17, nearly saw us defend 129.
Honest reflections and player lead plans saw 2 excellent victories posting 256, Will Sweeting 77, bowling out Cornwall for 87, Shriranj Praveen 6-19. Plus posting 362, NIckash Choughule 73, Archie Hackett 52, Will Sweeting 74, was too much for Norfolk who limped to 126AO, Arthur Sweeting 3-8, Shriranj Praveen 4-17. A great result for the Suffolk born Coach.
Next came ‘Seattle’, against a very good bowling attack we posted 177, Henry Rendell 95NO. Unfortunately, a great opening batting performance guided Seattle to victory with Rishi Ayyapan 3-39. The festival ended with a rained out final day, but a highlight was Shriranj Praveen with 12-61 being awarded best bowler.
Will no partnerships forming we limped to 170, Nirvaan Jain 44NO, which Hampshire easily reached despite Amogh Sugur 4-34. The bowlers made light work of Cornwall 110 AO, Peter Biggs 3-29, Shriranj Praveen 3-19. After a mini collapse, skipper Joe Armitage steadied proceedings and saw the team home. The final game saw an opening partnership of 158, leading to 253-4, Nikash Choughule 66 and Nirvaan Jain 105 NO. Unfortunately, a strong batting performance saw Wales win by 5 wkts.
The final fixture, a 2-day game against Wiltshire; a new experience for many. A declared 240-7 from Wiltshire, Noah Tutty 4-41, saw us batting before tea, but disappointingly go from a strong 99-2 to 126-6. The first hours play of day 2 was crucial whereby momentum swung into Glos favour by overtaking Wilts score with 254, Noah Bennett 83. A procession of wilts wkts, Amogh Sugur 3-11 left 129 for victory. Nirvaan Jain getting a flying start, positive batting proceeded culminating in Henry Rendell smashing 3 sixes in 7 balls to win with ease.
Performance of the Year:
Having been given the opportunity in a different role slightly up the order, he found himself going into bat at 2-2. 2 50 plus partnerships, got the team back in the game but no other batter could contend with the bowling attack of the Seattle team. Therefore, for his 95 not out Henry Rendell is awarded the U14 Boys Performance of the Season.
Player of the Year:
The captains go to bowling preference at any stage of the innings, this player builds pressure and makes batters play, he was the team’s leading wicket taker and awarded bowler of the Tournament at Taunton Festival with 12-61, therefore the U14 Boys player of the season is Shriranj Praveen.
