The Warwickshire 60+ firsts team have continued their improvement in 2019 despite a tough start to the season.
The Warwickshire 60+ firsts team have continued their improvement in 2019 despite a tough start to the season.
Having lost the first game of the regional phase, the team rallied well by finishing in second place, which subsequently secured entry to the and progressed to the national phase of the competition.
Some excellent all-round team performances ensured that the first team were unbeaten until the final game, which effectively became a semi-final against a strong Lancashire team that went on to win the national final convincingly.
The team enjoyed success because of its strength-in-depth, but the batting of Shaun Williams and bowling of Dave Pyne were pivotal. Additionally, the impressive all-round performances from Duncan Gardner have been recognised with an England call-up to tour Australia.
The 2019 season was the 4th season for the Warwickshire 60+ 2nd XI, competing in the National 60+ County Cricket Championship.
The competition ended with the team finishing fourth in the group of six, with three additional wins in friendly fixtures to end the season.
Leading run scorers were Abid Din (499), Phil Cole (434), Dave Rogers (368) and Ali Babar (321). In the bowling department the leading wicket-takers were Harold Turner with 17, Phil Cole with 15, Geoff Knight with 12 and 10 apiece for Rob Ball, Stuart Paul and Bernie Spratt. Dave Edge took 8 catches and made 7 stumpings in another excellent campaign behind the stumps. The Players’ Player of the Year trophy was awarded to Phil Cole for his excellent all round contribution.
A special mention to Jeff Evans for scoring 15 of the 16 games that were played and also to the umpires who stood throughout the season.
