THE Somerset Cricket Foundation Walking Cricket League competition, sponsored by Rajpoot Indian Restaurant and Home Science International Food, has once again been hosted at the Highbridge Hub at Highbridge YMCA.

Five teams from across Somerset took part: defending champions Weston, alongside Highbridge and Yeovil, with two new hubs—Bridgwater and Wells—joining the competition for the first time.

The league was played over five rounds, from mid-February to mid-March, and featured some excellent cricket throughout.

Each match consisted of 16 overs per side, with teams of eight players. Batters played in pairs, with each pair facing four overs and changing ends every three balls.

Runs were scored as follows: Hitting the side or back wall scored 2 runs; Hitting the end wall behind the bowler scored 6 runs if struck directly without bouncing, or 4 runs if caught by a fielder after rebounding off the wall; Hitting the end wall along the ground scored 4 runs; Hitting the ceiling scored 1 run; An additional 2 runs could be earned if the batters successfully “ran” (walked) to the other end.

No balls and wides each resulted in 2 extra runs. If a batter was dismissed, 5 runs were deducted from the team’s total. Dismissals could occur in the usual ways—bowled, stumped, caught, run out, or hit wicket—although LBW does not apply in walking cricket.

Event organizer and Lead Volunteer Mark Berry from the Highbridge Hub extended his gratitude to all participating teams, with over 60 players taking part throughout the competition. Special thanks were given to: The Highbridge YMCA and the team from Purplespoon Café , the umpires, The Highbridge Hub volunteers for their work in setup, scoring, and logistics and our sponsors Rajpoot Indian Restaurant and Home Science International Food in Taunton

What Is Walking Cricket? Walking Cricket offers a slower-paced version of the sport, making it ideal for older adults or those with limited physical mobility who still want to experience the joy of cricket. Matches can be played in teams or pairs, with all elements—batting, bowling, fielding, and running—conducted at a walking pace. A soft ball is used, and games typically last about an hour.

Walking Cricket Hubs are located across Somerset, including Highbridge, Weston-Super-Mare, Clevedon, Wells, Yeovil, and Taunton. The sessions are open to senior adults 55+ regardless of prior cricket experience and are welcoming to both men and women.

Get Involved: Whether you’re looking to join a session or explore sponsorship opportunities, contact Mustafa Shaikh at [email protected]. For further information, visit Somerset Cricket Foundation’s website: somersetcricketfoundation.org/community-programmes/walking-cricket/.

At the end of the competition Highbridge were crowned overall winners securing four wins from four matches. Wells finished as runners-up, with three wins from four matches.

Somerset Cricket Foundation Community Activation Officer Mustafa Shaikh would like to express his gratitude to Mark Berry and the Highbridge crew for supporting the Foundation in running this tournament on their behalf. It has become of an annual event which was enjoyed by all the players and played in the true of spirit of cricket and friendship.

Thanks must also go to the five hubs for participating and a special thanks to the respective Lead Volunteers for the coordinating the players to get the games played.