England’s cricketers may be feeling the heat over in the Caribbean but 4,000 miles away in Tower Hamlets a six-a-side team from Brent found their form to lift the winners’ cup at a StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports competition.
The “Brent Buccaneers” team members were among 100 youngsters, aged eight to 18, that enjoyed the half-term event last Monday (16 February) at ‘Play on Sports’ indoor cricket centre near Canary Wharf.
The six-a-side cricket competition featured a fast-paced version of the game: ‘Street 20’. Each innings lasted just 20 balls, everyone got to bat and bowl and a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape replaced the traditional leather ball.
StreetChance is a new initiative that uses cricket to engage young people from a range of backgrounds in areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour. It is a partnership between Chance to shine, Barclays Spaces for Sports, Cricket for Change, the Metropolitan Police Service and Positive Futures.
The Final between Brent and local team Tower Hamlets Tigers was a thriller which ended in a draw. The match had to be decided by a ‘bowl off’ - the cricketing equivalent of a penalty shoot-out in football where players bowl at the stumps. Brent players rose to the challenge and hit the stumps more often than the Tower Hamlets bowlers to claim a last-ditch victory.
Fabian Devlin, Communication Manager StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports said: “It was great to see so many youngsters during the half-term break enjoying a day of fast-paced, exciting Street20 cricket. The children came from across London, mixed with others from different areas and backgrounds and channelled their energies into a positive, healthy activity.”
Other teams competing for the title of ‘StreetChance champions’ were: Croydon Kings, Ealing Allstars, Hackney Hurricanes, Kensington & Chelsea Cobras, Lewisham Lions, Newham Knights, Southwark Storm and Wandsworth Warriors.
Tags: Brent Buccaneers