Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

UK Parliament Squares Cricket Series With India

Yesterday, in a keenly fought contest at Reigate Priory Cricket Club, Lords and Commons Cricket, representing the British Parliament, avenged their defeat at the hands of their Indian counterparts in Delhi earlier this year.

Chetan Chauhan former MP and former test cricket player (He set the then test record of ten 100 run opening partnerships with Sunil Gavaskar.) scored 86, out of an innings total of 143 from 35 overs. Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough, took 2 for 36. In the Lords and Commons reply Henry Bellingham (25) and Crispin Blunt (44) put on 72 for the first wicket before both falling victim to Afzal Ansari. Despite the Indian MP’s 4 wickets for 28 runs, he was not able to stop Hugh Robertson MP (29) and the Hon Richard Cornwall Legh (25) steering the Lords and Commons home by 4 wickets.

The guest of honour was Tom Graveney OBE, England cricket legend and President of the MCC. He was delighted to receive a cheque for £5000 for the ‘Chance to Shine’ campaign during lunch and Crispin Blunt MP was able to announce that the Lords and Commons Cricket India scholarship would provide £25,000 for the academic education of promising young Indian cricketers who win residential places at India’s new cricket academy being prepared by the Jawaharal Nehru Sports Trust.

The good causes benefited thanks to the generous sponsorship of Veetee Rice and Mittal Steel. The event was hosted in immaculate style by the new Surrey club champions, Reigate Priory Cricket Club, and their president Andrew Packham expressed his delight at being able to host this event at the end of the club’s most successful season and to contribute to British-Indian relations. The club’s current professional, Sairaj Bahutule, who has played two tests for India and is the current captain of Mumbai.