A dedication to his craft cultivated by a love of the game is paying dividends for young Tamworth cricketer Harry Lewington.
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The Tamworth Blue under-12s captain was on Saturday night named the Tamworth Junior Cricket Association Championship Player of the Year.
Lewington’s haul on the night also included the batting aggregate for his under-12s side with 345 runs at an average of 31.4, and the bowling aggregate and average after claiming 21 wickets at an average of 8.3.
It capped off a brilliant season that saw Lewington lead the Blues to Ross Panton Cup success.
“It was good to win the final,” he said.
“We all batted very well. One of our players got 50 and a few of us got mid-20s and we bowled really well. They couldn’t get us away.”
He was been around the game from an early age with father Donny a stalwart of the local cricket scene.
“I’ve been dragging him along for years,” the North Tamworth secretary remarked.
It’s instilled a strong passion for the game.
“I just love the game,” Harry said.
Loves watching it and loves playing it.
This season he also made the jump up to grade where he has acquitted himself superbly.
Playing alongside elder brother Michael for the Redbacks fourth grade side, he has found himself opening the bowling and the batting.
“It’s a little bit harder competition but it’s been good facing better bowlers,” he said.
He has no preference between batting and bowling, although he did work a lot more on his batting over the off-season.
Donny said the success that has come his way he has earned.
“We’re very proud of him. He’s worked really hard,” Lewington said.
“He practices every day.”
He had intended to play with Harry and Michael in fourth grade but his services were required elsewhere.
Harry also looks destined for grades higher sooner rather than later.
“At the start of the year the idea was that he would probably play a couple of games,” Donny said.
But that hasn’t been the case, with Harry becoming a bit of a “go to man” with the ball for his fourth grade side.
He is their leading wicket-taker and fifth overall for the Redbacks with 26 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 12.92 and economy rate of 2.56.
He has also been one of the club’s best performers with the bat scoring 225 runs and a highest score of 43.
“It’s been a very maturing experience for him,” Donny said.
And the confidence he has taken from his grade performances he has carried into the rep season.
Lewington said he is happy with how his season has gone.
It isn’t over yet with the Redbacks taking on City in the major semi-final this weekend.