Head of Talent Development, Richard Almond provides an update on the Talent Pathway sides during July:
July has been another very busy and largely successful month for the Wales age group teams. There have been some very good team wins and some outstanding individual performances across all the teams.
The U13 team followed up their win over Worcestershire last month with a successful tour of the Southeast.
In the first game against Middlesex Wales scored 179 for nine in their 40 overs and at 126 for eight it seemed a comfortable win was on the cards, but the Middlesex tail wagged, and an 8th wicket stand of 45 took the game down to the wire. The bowlers held their nerve and Wales won by four runs, bowling Middlesex out for 175.
Batting first again against Kent, Wales posted 162 for seven in 40 overs. An excellent bowling and fielding performance saw Kent all out for 121 with Wales winning by 41 runs.
The U14s have continued their winning ways with good wins against Devon and the Isle of Wight. Devon were restricted to 198 for eight in 45 overs and Wales reached the target for the loss of eight wickets in the 44th over to win by two wickets.
Against the Isle of Wight, Wales reduced the opposition to 51 for nine but a spirited last wicket stand of 53 saw a target of 104 but was reached with ease for the loss of three wickets.
The U16 team have been very busy in July with ECB Cup wins over Oxford, Devon, Dorset and Gloucestershire. There was a drawn two-day game against Devon and a U15 friendly win also against Devon. The only defeats in a busy month came in two games against the Western Storm women’s team a defeat by five wickets in the first game and by five runs in the second.
The U18 team defeated Devon by 124 runs in the next round of the ECB 50 over cup, and they now face Gloucestershire in the quarterfinals on August 14th at Panteg CC. The first game in the three- day ECB Championship resulted in a disappointing 10-wicket loss to Somerset. Our next three-day game is against Worcestershire U18s from 2nd – 4th August at Abergavenny Cricket Club.
We have had four boys recognised for their efforts this year with selection in the regional South West U15 and U17 teams for the U17 Super 4s week and the U15 Bunbury week.
Ben Morris and Henry Hurle had good weeks in the Super 4 tournament, whilst Tom Norton and Jac Hope-Bell are going to the prestigious Bunbury festival next month.
