Over £1,300 has been raised to help fund a Dolgellau cricketer’s quest to take part in a world cup competition.

Having been selected to play for Wales over-50s for the past two seasons, Phil Leeds has been selected to represent his country in the Over-50s Cricket World Cup in March 2020.

This will take place in Cape Town, South Africa and a fundraising page has been set up to help Phil to take part.

Phil, 51, will be travelling to Cape Town on 9 March 2020.

Phil is currently treasurer on the committee for Dolgellau Cricket Club. He has also been captain of the club numerous times as well as the captain of Merionethshire, when there was a county championship.

The Dolgellau native told the Cambrian News that 80 people are in the over-50s squad and that he was “lucky” to be one of just 16 players chosen to compete.

The team will play in Pool B, along with Pakistan, England, South Africa, India and Namibia.

On being chosen for the world cup squad, Phil said: “It’s a great honour and very exciting. I’m very proud to be Welsh and to represent our county in a world cup is a huge thing isn’t it?

“I have always played cricket as far back as I remember, as my grandad was ‘Mr Cricket’ here and my dad also played so it’s basically been my life.

“I’m one of the groundsmen along with my cousin Jonny Mills, we inherited the job following years of hard work by our grandad, Eddie Leeds, and then our dear friend recently departed, Pat Jefferson.”

If you would like to support Phil’s journey, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/llinos-rowlands?utm_term=8DZ3WyWEk

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