Billings joins Lords Taverners finalists

Kent and England wicketkeeper Sam Billings passed on some tips to Bexley’s disability cricket squad as they reached the Lords Taverners finals at Lord’s.

The 26-year-old Kent Cricket Academy graduate showed the squad through some training drills and provided the team talk before their last group game, Bexley coming out on top.

Ealing finally came out on top in the Final and lifting the trophy on their first visit to the finals on their second visit to the indoor school at the Home of Cricket.

The Lord’s Taverners Disability Cricket Championships, a year-round cricket programme supported by the Berkeley Foundation and launched in 2013, aims to provide disabled young people aged 12-25 with the opportunity to engage in regular sporting activity.

With additional funding from the Wembley National Stadium Trust, Sport England and players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, LTDCC provides access to regular coaching and competition in local communities across London.

The Bexley HUB has been running since November 2015 and is regularly visited by up to 15 young people with a disability where they continue to progress with their cricketing experience.

Having waited two years for a win at the Finals they won all 3 group stage matches and qualified for the semi-finals where they played Hackney but were beaten.

Following the competition players and spectators moved to the Nursery Pavilion where the annual awards reception took place.

Amongst the winners were Kent’s Dartfordians Cricket Club who received an award of Special Recognition for their support with the Bexley Hub; promoting the weekly sessions and hosting the HUB during the summer months on their cricket field and outdoor nets facilities.

Collecting the award, the clubs Hon Treasurer, Michelle Ross, was delighted to receive the award and said “This is a total surprise and a great honour.  We welcome all abilities to the cricket club and seeing the players practice during the summer months is truly inspiring.  We look forward to a very long relationship with Kent Cricket and the Bexley HUB.”

Further details on The Lords Taverners Championships in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham can be found here – https://www.kentcommunitycricket.co.uk/disability/lords-taverners