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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTen schools were reached with 870 children, 37% girls having fun, and educational coaching sessions, featuring key messages for participants and teachers that cricket is a \u2018Game for All\u2019 and gender equality in society can be strengthened by using the power and reach of cricket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coaching team took well to their tasks in the small play\nareas that would test people back home. In some cases, 50 people in 50sqm made the\ncricket experience a challenge but with the CWB mass participation specialists\ngiving their all to the children through cricket \u2013 what\u2019s not to admire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn one school, space was at such a premium that a few balls\nin the bowling session went sailing over the gated entrance that also contained\na small entrance door. On one occasion, much to the surprise of the coach, less\nso for pupils, a teacher entered on a motorised scooter via the side door in\nthe gate at mid-off, then without hesitation or apology travelled to fine-leg. Another,\n\u2018what\u2019s behind the gate\u2019 surprise were the three ducks making their way down\nthe road just as two boys ran out to retrieve balls followed by two goats being\ntaken for a walk on leads embellished with orange flowers, apparently to keep\nthem interested in the perambulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, in the centre of the town, a large open space exists\nwhich is used by the youth in the community. This dusty, worn space provides a dawn\nto dusk opportunity, especially well used for pre and after-school activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waking-up in Dhankuta isn\u2019t an issue, activity commences\nbefore dawn when the local dogs have a great \u2018party\u2019 howling and barking just\nno musical accompaniment, interestingly before dawn, the local cockerel\u2019s get\ncrowing. No need to await the frequently used hammer struck gong as the\ncommunity is alive with pick-up games of soccer, more than one game taking\nplace simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn our final afternoon coaches organised a spontaneous cricket\nsession as soon as school soccer had ended. Many of the participants in the\nearlier cricket sessions moved away from their football and joined in with some\n\u2018diamond-cricket\u2019 and \u2018three ball and run\u2019 pairs cricket with a wind ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A return to the hotel after coaching left a few of the\ncoaching team with some work to do, retrieving their handwashed items which when\ndrying were blown from the balcony, CWB shirts, shorts were rescued from a roof\nbelow the rooms and a pair of knickers, clearly lighter in weight than the\nrobust CWB kit, made it further gently drifting on the breeze into the swimming\npool requiring retrieval by the life-saving pole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next stops Pathri and Itahari with an early start \u2013 No clock or phone alarm required, the dogs and cockerels have captured the market. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Bedford<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the time it takes a club side to bowl 40 overs, our team travelled…<\/p>\n