Latest from the Pathway: August
The young cricketers on the Somerset Pathway have continued to produce some impressive performances recently.
Left-arm spinner Mo Kaleem enjoyed a seven-wicket haul for Somerset Under 18s in a three-day match against Worcestershire at Taunton Cricket Club.
Batting first in the ECB Under 18 Championship, Somerset made 307 all out in their first innings, Bertie Michael top scoring with 11, while Sam Price hit 44, Oscar Coleman 40 and Zach Vukusic 39.
Worcestershire were bowled out for 231 in 60.3 overs, Kaleem taking four for 65 and Harvey Richards three for 45.
Somerset declared on 307 for nine in the second innings. Coleman hit 102, Sam Price made 57 and Vukusic hit 49.
Chasing 394 for victory, Worcestershire were bowled out for 161, Kaleem taking seven for 49 in 19.5 overs giving Somerset victory by 232 runs.
Somerset Under 18 Boys are through to the final of the ECB County Cup after beating Middlesex by 128 in the semi-final at Taunton CC.
After opting to bat, Somerset posted 271 for eight from their 50 overs. Toby Stoddard making 95 off 112 balls with 13 fours. In reply Middlesex were bowled out for 143, Harvey Richards taking five for 29 off 7.5 overs.
Somerset face Yorkshire in the final that will be played on August 31st at Kibworth, Leicestershire.
Somerset are also enjoying success in the ECB Under 16 County Cup and in their latest match they beat Hampshire at Downside School by four wickets.
After choosing to bat, Hampshire were dismissed for 220 in 48.5 overs, Sam Harvey-Knight taking five for 27 in 5.5 overs, while Harvey Bird took three for 24.
In reply, Somerset reached 221 for six in 44.3 overs, thanks to an unbroken seventh wicket stand of 85 between Max Davis (44) and Harvey-Knight (54).
Both the Somerset Pathway Under 16 and Under 18 Girls teams are enjoying success in the ECB competitions this season and have put together a number of good results recently.
In the ECB Vitality Girls Under 16 T20, Somerset enjoyed a double success over Gloucestershire when the two sides met at Downside School. In the opening match, after being asked to bat first, the visitors posted 129 for seven from their overs, Grace Findlay taking two for 15 and Jessica Slade two for 26.
When Somerset replied, Emily Dummett and Isabel Glyn-Jones (41) came together and added 61 together. Dummett (32*) remained at the wicket and along with Lucy Delaney saw Somerset to a seven-wicket victory in the 16th over.
In the second game, Gloucestershire chose to bat and made 126 all out, Matilda Parfitt claiming three for 12 off 2.5 overs, while Grace Findlay claimed two for 11 and Jeanette Childs two for 12.
The Somerset reply was built upon a third wicket partnership of 65 between Delaney (43) and Dummett (28) as they reached 129 for four with three balls to spare.
In the ECB Vitality Girls Under 18 T20, Somerset enjoyed success in both the games that they played against Worcestershire.
In the first match, after opting to bat, Worcestershire made 102 for six, Sophie Pickering ending with impressive figures of four for 12.
Somerset made light work of their target and reached 112 for four in 14 overs thanks to Emma Mason (33) who added 43 for the second wicket with Leila Moledina (29*), who then shared an unbroken partnership of 36 for the fifth wicket with Lilly Blackwell, who ended unbeaten on 24.
Second time around, Somerset won the toss and posted a total of 198 for two, which included 64 retired not out from Charlotte Webber, and 47 from Mason who also retired not out. Moledina ended unbeaten on 28, and Mila Brooke scored 12 not out.
In reply, Worcestershire reached 119 for four, Sophie Pickering taking two for 15.
In the last 16 of the ECB Girls Under 18 County Cup, Somerset faced Hampshire at Taunton Cricket Club.
After choosing to bat first Somerset were all out for 175 in 43.2 overs of which Moledina contributed 69. She shared a third wicket stand of 36 with Glyn-Jones (17), and a seventh wicket stand of 39 with Lucy Ashman (16) before putting on 35 for the last wicket with Poppy Hawker.
When Hampshire replied, Verity Clark claimed two early wickets as the visitors slipped to 48 for four before a partnership of 104 saw Hampshire to 176 for six in the 39th over to win by four wickets. Clark ended with three for 44 from 10 overs.
