As The University of Gloucestershire’s cricket club’s indoor season draws to an end, it has been a season of mixed performances. Playing on Monday nights in the Cheltenham indoor premiership as well as their indoor BUCS competition, there have been many highs, as well as some lows.
Their season started off on a high, with an impressive win over last years runners up, Cheltenham Cricket club, thanks to an impressive 58 not out from Adam Sercombe.
The victories continued to pour in, with a 28 run victory over Ullenwood Bharat Cricket Club, including three retirements. The pick of the bunch was skipper Neal Osborn with a profession knock, finishing on 48 before getting ran out on the last ball of the innings.
Moving onto the pinnacle of the year. Indoor BUCS. A two day event down in Exeter against other Universities, with a place at nationals as the reward. Moving on from a disappoint first day, without winning a game, the side went on to win two out of the four on day two.
The first victory came in a dominant display against Aberystwyth University, where the Welsh side was bowled out for just 18 off 6.4 overs, with Gloucestershire chasing it down in just seven balls.
“I think the intensity was different the second week, we pride ourselves on making other teams know we are there, but in the first week we were quiet, not like a typical Gloucester side,” Osborn said.
The second win came against the University of West England, as the Bristolian’s were bowled out for 86. Gloucestershire secured a second comfortable win with 10 balls to spare to make it two out of two for the day.
Things went downhill from there though, with Exeter 1st making light work of Osborn’s side, bowling them out in just 5.3 overs and chasing it down without losing a wicket.
The final game was a lot tighter however, as Gloucester restricted Bristol to just 78 but failed to chase it down, making just 62 in response.
“Even though we lost there was more positives from the Bristol loss than any of the other games I thought because it showed the lads character,” Osborn went on to add.
Adam Sercombe is a player who has received praise from his captain, especially for his knock in the opening game of the season.
“It was a really smart knock, he ended up being the last man in and scored most of his runs when it was just him on his own.”
With one game left of the year, Osborn and his men will be looking to finish on a high as they take on Charlton Kings CC, where a win will be enough to see his side move above their opposition, who have a game in-hand.
Watch the full interview here:
