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During Northampton’s tour of Sri Lanka, Henry Pollock put his cricketing talents on display by smashing 13 runs from a mere four deliveries, though the International Rugby Stars ultimately fell short against a lineup of Sri Lankan cricket icons in a charity T12 game in Colombo on Monday.
The England and Lions loose forward walked to the crease with defeat already looming, as the Saints-dominated Rugby Stars side, captained and kept by David Campes, struggled to reach their target of 140 runs.
Although skilled Midlands club cricketer George Hendy gave the Rugby Stars XI a promising start, his swift departure for 18 left the visiting side facing an uphill battle, despite a fighting effort from top scorer Alex Mitchell, who made 24.
Fin Smith was subsequently clean bowled for a two-ball duck, with Fraser Dingwall suffering an identical fate. However, Pollock, wearing sunglasses and a backward cap, partnered effectively with Alex Coles, whose tall reach proved highly effective in guiding the Rugby Stars to a strong finish.
This exhibition game, featuring legendary players from Sri Lanka’s historic 1996 Cricket World Cup triumph, was organized to generate donations for the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation (LAF), the sole institution in the country focused on providing care for individuals affected by dementia and cognitive decline.
The defending Premiership Rugby titleholders are visiting Sri Lanka for an eight-day trip, which stems from their partnership with the Asia Pacific Lions Rugby.
The trip is set to wrap up with a rugby match against the Asia Pacific Lions on Friday, August 28, hosted at Colombo’s Racecourse International Stadium.
