Cricketers in the Bedfordshire town of Sandy have been put back at the crease thanks to a donation from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund.
Sandy Cricket Club has been able to relay its all-weather cricket wicket at Sunderland Road Recreation Ground after the £6,000 donation put them on a level playing field.
Ian Hurst, chair of Sandy Cricket Club, said: “The original artificial all-weather cricket wicket was laid over 20 years ago. The deterioration of the original wicket has meant that for the past two years it has been unusable due to the uneven and damaged surface.
“The cost of a new artificial wicket was a prohibitive factor for Sandy Cricket Club until an application was made to the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund. The grant of nearly £6,000 meant that the cricket club could finally finance the replacement, and the work has now been successfully completed by Durant Cricket.”
Sandy Cricket Club hosts junior league matches. Hence, the replacement of the all-weather artificial wicket has been a priority for the club. The all-weather cricket wicket will be used for the junior league matches and the weekly junior and senior coaching sessions.
“The whole local community will also benefit from the new cricket wicket,” added Ian. “It can be hired free of charge by contacting either Sandy Cricket Club or Sandy Town Council.”
Martin Render, manager at Tarmac’s Sandy Heath Sand Quarry, said: “Sandy Cricket Club is one of the hubs for sporting and social activity in the town and we are delighted to be able to help where we can through the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund.”
