Minster’s young guns
The coronavirus pandemic ruined hopes of a fourth successive promotion for Minster’s senior side but the junior section is thriving.
The club broke new ground when for the first time ever they fielded three separate junior sides in the same age group on the same evening.
“We’re very proud of how far we’ve come and all 24 lads did great,” the club boasted on twitter. “Proof cricket is still thriving!”
Recreational cricket got the go-ahead to return last month and while the Kent Cricket League scrapped their 2020 season, the kids have been returning to Gilbert Hall in their numbers as competitive action has resumed.
Junior co-ordinator Callum Hughes has been delighted, saying: “After months of being stuck indoors, Minster Cricket Club’s junior section has come out of lockdown with a bang.
“Adapting to social distancing and guidelines provided by the ECB, the Swale Cricket Association leagues were able to restart again last week. “Despite concerns about demand to play matches for the shortened season, the club’s junior membership continues to grow to record levels.
“Over seventy children under the age of 16 are now registered with the club, and for the first time in their history, Minster were able to field three junior teams at one age group on the same night for the first time ever.”
The teams of eight competed in three seperate under-12 matches at the club’s home ground.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for the club,” Hughes added. The under-16s and under14s have also kicked off their season, as well as friendly soft ball training for under-10 players.
Senior cricket is restricted to friendly action at present, with three teams fielded last weekend, but it’s likely that a Twenty20 competition will take place.
Minster’s 1st XI were set to play in Division 1 of the Kent
Cricket League this summer, just one step below the top-flight of the county set-up.
Kent skipper Sam Billings has played a key role in guiding England to a series win over Ireland.
England moved into an unassailable 2-0 win in the three-match ODI series which is taking place behind closed doors at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Days after a career-best oneday international score of 67 not-out in England’s first match victory the Kent skipper once again produced a mature innings in a four-wicket win on Saturday.
Billings kept his place in the England side, batting at no.5, following his impressive performance as replacement for county team-mate Joe Denly in the first ODI.
Ireland chose to bat and
England were left chasing 213 for victory.
Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow was the main man with the bat, hitting a quickfire 82, off just 41 balls. He made his half century off just 21 deliveries, equalling Eoin Morgan’s record for England’s fastest one-day international half-century. England stumbled with Morgan and Moeen Ali both departing for a duck but from 137-6, Billings steered the side back on course.
Billings was only included in the first match, which England won by six wickets, because of a back injury to Denly. But he was once again there at the end, along with David Willey in a 79-run partnership, finishing with 41 off 61 balls.
Billings made 19 but Ireland won the third one-day international by seven wickets on Tuesday.