BELBROUGHTON cricketers have been bowled over by the installation of new practise nets at their Hackman's Gate Lane ground.
The club, which runs a total of 16 teams, obtained £47,868 in funding to replace the previous nets which had fallen into serious disrepair.
Initial funding had been provided through the England and Wales Cricket Board.
But the cricketers were given a huge helping hand when Cory Environmental Trust in Britain stumped up £27,000 which enabled the club to reach their target.
The original nets were becoming unfit for purpose to the point where they had become dangerous to use owing to holes and ripped patches.
The nets also ran from east to west, which left both bowlers and batsmen with the sun in their eyes during various times of the day.
Club spokesman Tony Boardman said: "Our former nets were dated and in an extremely poor state of repair.
"Our new nets provide us with state-of-the-art facilities which we need to attract more local people into cricket and we'd like to thank CETB for helping us hit our fundraising target."
Belbroughton runs teams from under nines right through to senior level but the nets will also be made available for local schools and community groups to use.
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