Friendly Gloucestershire U10 232 all out (39 overs) Gwent U10 52 all out (16.2 overs)

GLOUCESTERSHIRE won by 180 runs Playing in their first ever county fixture, Gloucestershire U10s showed their potential with a dominant 180 run victory over Gwent.

Runs and wickets were shared throughout the team in an impressive performance at Abergavenny CC.

Having been put into bat on a slightly damp wicket, Gloucestershire made a confident start With James Austin (Winterbourne) and Gus Roberts (Ross on Wye) running positively between the wickets.

Austen was bowled by a good delivery for 6 and was replaced by Billy Benson (Dumbleton) who played some excellent shots before being run out for 16.

Woody Walker (Cirencester) then showed his power, hitting 8 fours and a six in an innings of 47.

Gloucestershire reached the 14 over drinks break at 98-2, but lost quick wickets immediately afterwards. Roberts was bowled for 27, Walker run out three short of a half century and Luke Hope (Great Rissington) didn’t trouble the scorers.

But the team fought back through Ottie Landale (Cirencester) and Max Dunne (Frocester) who put on 28, to make it 147-6.

Landale played some fantastic shots and ran very well between the wickets, striking seven boundaries in a fine innings of 45.

There was also a kick in the tail, as Ed Johnson (Lansdown) made 15 and the final pair, Spencer Gammon (Whitchurch) and Henry Trotman (Thornbury) - both eight years old, scored 18 and 14 respectively in a 10th wicket partnership of 28.

Chasing a mammoth 233 to win, Gwent were pegged back early on by Jacob Stephenson (Bristol YMCA) and Trotman who conceded only 12 runs in the first eight overs.

Stevenson got the breakthrough and from there, a disciplined allround bowling performance saw Gwent crumble to 52 all out. Wickets were shared around with skipper Hope the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-2 from 4 overs.

Manager Eric Woodmason said “This was such a good day. The boys were brilliant in training and I wondered whether they could take that on to the field. They did - and more! They all performed and I’m sure they all got something out of the day and, more importantly, learnt something that will improve their game.”