Earlier this month Somerset Cricket Board and Somerset County Cricket Club teamed up to delver the inaugural ‘Provider Cup’.

The ‘Provider Cup’ was used as an opportunity to promote disability cricket in the County as well as providing a fun morning of competitive inclusive cricket.

Local disability providers were invited to compete and six organisations (Realise, Green Days, Discovery, Oaklea Care, Meadow Court and Mencap) took part in the competition. Each team consisted of six players, and was made up of three trainees/customers along with three staff. Teams played in two pools of three with a final between the teams finishing top of their division.

The games were umpired by players from Somerset Disabled Cricket Club, who also took the opportunity to speak about their experience and why people should consider joining the Club.

Along with Somerset Disabled Cricket Club, Somerset County Cricketers Jack Brooks, Ben Green, Roelof van Der Merwe and Nathan Gilchrist were on hand to present awards, have pictures taken and answer questions.

The first Provider Cup was eventually won by Oaklea Care.

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Somerset Cricket Board’s Steve Gass, who organised the event, said: “It was great to have so many people from a wide range of organisations in attendance and wanting to make links. We have had such great feedback and there is demand to make this a regular occurrence. What was also pleasing was to have our Somerset Disabled Cricketers being able to assist and advocate on our behalf.”

For more information about the Provider Cup or disability cricket in Somerset, please contact steve.gass@somersetcricketboard.org