Redeemer Baptist School are through to the finals of the Wiburd Shield

Cricket NSW has been working closely children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds as part of an extended skills program being run at Redeemer Baptist School at North Parramatta over the last two summers.

The school team is made up of children from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Lebanon, India and Australia. Only one of these children plays cricket outside of school so the program run by Cricket NSW has played a major part in getting these kids involved in the game.

Redeemer’s team is making great program and recently won through to the Final of the Wiburd Shield, a 40-over competition. In the decider, to be played at home on March 17, they will face the Riverina Anglican College from Wagga Wagga.

In reaching the Final, Redeemer defeated Inaburra Christian School, St Paul’s Penrith and The Illawarra Grammar School. One of those matches saw an amazing 263 run partnership off 27 overs between Antonio Castellarin (131 not out) and Petros Savaiko (98).

Cricket NSW Sydney West Cricket Manager, Craig McLean, said "We are proud of this team's efforts. With such an amazing range of nationalities in the side it shows the true global reach of cricket!"