By Kevin Redsull

Derek Towe is back home in Eastry near Sandwich after playing a key role as England’s over-70s cricket team regained the Silver Ashes by winning their One-Day International series 2-1 in Australia.

The Betteshanger Colliery Welfare all-rounder won four man-of-the-match awards in the 10-game tour, including being picked as England’s best player in the final ODI in Melbourne, where England clinched their series success.

Towe struck 75 not out in that game and figured in an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 132 with captain Chris Swadkin as England cruised to an eight-wicket victory against an Australian side who had enjoyed a 3-0 series victory when the sides last met Down Under in 2018.

And for 70-year-old Towe, who won his first England cap in the opening ODI in Brisbane, the whole trip was an experience of a lifetime.

“The first thing to say is that I was with a great bunch of people,” he said.

“All our players and officials, and also the Aussies, could not have been better hosts - everywhere we went, they made us feel so welcome.

“We started off in Queensland and, gradually, made our way south to Sydney and then Canberra, where we had a reception at the British High Commissioner’s office, before finishing off with two games in Melbourne.

“We played at some lovely grounds and there were quite a few people watching every game – the Aussies really are cricket mad!

“From my own point of view, it was, obviously, very pleasing to win four man-of-the-match awards, especially in the final ODI where we clinched the series.

“But for me, the main highlight probably came in our third game of the tour against a Queensland President’s XI.

“It was the match before the opening ODI so I was keen to do well to boost my chances of being selected for the ODI.

“We batted first and I top-scored with 44. Then, when the President’s XI replied, they were going along nicely and it was clear it was going to be a close finish.

“I was then brought onto bowl and, in my third over, I took three wickets, and they also had a player run-out in that same over. So that really turned the game in our favour and, afterwards, I was awarded my second man-of-the-match.

“If we had lost that match, it could have dented our confidence for the rest of the tour but we ended up winning nine of our 10 matches, with the only defeat coming in the opening ODI in Brisbane where I got a half-century.

“But we bounced back in the second ODI in Sydney to set up the decider in Melbourne, where we bowled and fielded really well and, in the end, enjoyed a pretty comfortable victory.

“Now, we are already looking forward to when the Australia over-70s team come to England this summer to try to regain the Silver Ashes, and one of their regional matches is going to be against the Kent over-70s team at Beckenham, which should be a really special day!”