20/08/2007

Metro avenges 2006 defeat smashing BBS Primary Club Knockout Cup records

London team beats South Wales Dragons by six wickets in thrilling final at Lord's

Metro, the London-based VI cricket team, made blind cricket history on August 11, setting new records as they batted to victory against last year's winners in the BBS Primary Club National Knockout Cup.

The record smashing started with the score on 100/3 when Metro's opening batsman Matt Dean was joined by Andy Mckeating. Dean reached the highest ever cup final score (92) and was only dismissed after a partnership of 106, another cup final record. Dragons' Howard Greenhill also made it into the history books becoming only the second person in the cup's history to achieve two 50's in the final.

"It was great to win in the highest scoring cup final of all time," said Dave Townley, Metro Captain. "It was one of the best games of cricket I've ever played in: very exciting, very competitive and it was a massive honour for me personally to lift the Cup at Lord's ."

"The quality of cricket in this competition keeps on improving every year and we're delighted to be able to keep supporting it thanks to our members' generous donations," added Derek Underwood, Primary Club Patron. "The BBS Primary Club Knockout Cup provides a much needed showcase for VI cricket and it also plays a vital part in British sporting history. The records that have been set today show how important this tournament is for nurturing talented VI players."

The cup and medals were presented by Primary Club Area Representative David Bentley.

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About The Primary Club (www.primaryclub.org)

Founded in 1955, The Primary Club’s mission is to raise money to fund sporting and recreational activities for blind and partially sighted children. Now in its fifty-fifth year the Club has almost 8,600 members having raised a total of well over £2 million. In 2009 the Club donated £187,000 to a number of UK-based charities including Joseph Clarke School, The Royal London Society for the Blind and British Blind Sport.