The lucky recipients, from New Oscott Village in Birmingham, as well as James Beattie House, Brunel Court and Broadway Gardens in Wolverhampton and St Crispin Village in Northampton, went to see two night games against Surrey and Northampton.

The tickets were donated to ExtraCare by Abra Hussein Aziz, who played with the ExtraCare cricket team.

He said: "I always enjoyed playing for ExtraCare, because it was a friendly group of people who just enjoyed picking up the bat or bowling."

Ibz, as he is known, is now working with under-privileged children and has set up two cricket teams playing in the Coventry 40 over league.

He was concerned that many children are on the streets or in the parks who were not so lucky, getting up to mischief, so he contacted Coventry Council for a grant which helped him set up a cricket club for them, named the Knightriders, two years ago and now they play in a Coventry Cricket league.

The club is affiliated with Warwickshire County Cricket Club, which donated the tickets for Ibz to distribute.

Ibz said: "I was inspired by the ExtraCare philosophy and wanted to show my appreciation for allowing me to join the team."

Picture:

New Oscott Village residents Joe O'Connor and Don Osborne, Abra Hussein Aziz, residents Sheila and Ray Guy, and Extralife editor Ian Collins.