Tillside CC talent Pandra Bell set for Sri Lanka tour

Local sixth former Pandra Bell, and a number of young cricketers from Northumberland’s elite player pathway, are preparing for a nine-day tour of Sri Lanka in the new year.

Setting off on February 14th, the party of 28 from the Under-18 County Squads will experience the trip of a lifetime, playing four local representative sides, training between matches, and enjoying some of the wonderful opportunities that make Sri Lanka such a famous destination.

Pandra, who plays her cricket at Tillside CC, has had a fantastic year, making her way into the Northumberland County Under-16 and Under-18 county sides in her first season playing representative cricket - and her on-field success has subsequently earned her an amazing opportunity.

Ruaidhri Fletcher, Northumberland Women and Girls Player Pathway Lead, said: “She has thoroughly deserved her place on this tour for her on-field performances, and her effort and improvement shown in training.”

Pandra has been playing cricket since the age of three at Tillside CC, and has represented every side in the club apart from the First XI in that time - from Under-Nine’s through all the age group teams up to Under-18’s, and on to Adult Ladies Softball, the Women’s League team, and the Second XI. She has been taking wickets and scoring runs, not to mention being an excellent fielder, at each and every stage. This season she has scored over 400 runs for the club, and took 22 wickets.

“It’s a tremendous achievement and we are very proud of her”, said Amanda Hindmarsh, Women and Girls Cricket lead at the club.

Club Chairman Steve Nutt added: “This is the result of hard work and a lot of practice and enthusiasm over many years. We are delighted that one of our own has been recognised in this way, and she thoroughly deserves her success. Well done, Pandra!”

For her part, Pandra has additional motivations. She said: “It’s been an amazing cricket season at Tillside and beyond. To play for Northumberland has been a real honour, and to be selected for the SL tour was just the icing on the cake. The timing of the tour is impeccable as it gets me out of lambing duties!”