Cricketer of the week remembers former team-mate Richard Beaumont (From Worcester News)

Cricketer of the week remembers former team-mate Richard Beaumont

12:00pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in News By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

ON a weekend when all Worcestershire League matches were overshadowed by the tragic death of Pedmore bowler Richard Beaumont, Worcester Nomads all-rounder Liam O’Driscoll paid tribute to his former team-mate.

Beaumont, 33, had claimed a five-wicket haul against Astwood Bank, before he collapsed on the pitch and later died of a suspected heart attack at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

O’Driscoll admits it is difficult to come to terms with the loss and remembers Beaumont fondly as a regular opponent and a team-mate in the Worcestershire League XI.

The Nomads player said: “My thoughts are with Richard’s friends and family at this terribly sad time. He was genuinely one of the funniest and nicest blokes you could play with or against.

“I played against him many times and also with him in a few county league teams. I will miss him, as will many other players across the league.”

While the tragedy was unfolding at Pedmore, O’Driscoll was oblivious as he played a starring role in Nomads’ Division One demolition of Bromyard.

The 25-year-old University of Birmingham medical student smashed 129 off just 86 balls as they racked up 360-6 from a rain-limited 47 overs at Flaggoners Green.

O’Driscoll then tore through the hosts’ batting line-up with 6-29 to lead his side to a 215-run thrashing, which won our player of the week award and a £30 Fearnley Factory Shop voucher. He said: “Bromyard are normally a pretty strong side and they have two or three very good bowlers, such as Dinusha Fernando, who has played international cricket for Sri Lanka.

“I went in at around 100-2, which makes a change as it has usually been about 20-2 when I’ve been going in! “It is quite a small ground and there was a fast outfield — I was basically just slogging.

“I scored a hundred and took five wickets against Pedmore earlier this season in a game we managed to lose, but the effort against Bromyard was definitely my best ever performance.

“Hopefully, we can now go on to secure the Division One title and promotion to the Birmingham League, which would be great for the club after narrowly missing out for the last few years.”