Rylands Cricket Club have paid tribute to former first XI cricketer and second XI mentor Yogesh Patel, who passed away this week.
Patel succumbed to coronavirus-related complications this week, after being hospitalised for almost a month. He was 41 years old.
“Yogesh and his two brothers and a few cousins joined Rylands Cricket Club as juniors, which means they have been playing at the club for over 20 years,” read a statement from the club.
“Yogesh was the oldest of the three and also one of our most talented cricketers. Before stopping first team cricket, he regularly won batting awards at the club for his first team achievements.
“He was also a more than capable off-spinner. In the latter part of his career, he started standing wicketkeeper in our second team and mentored quite a few youngsters through the ranks.
“He was the club’s leading run-scorer in the second team for the last two years and was the guy we looked to when our team was in trouble.
“We have lost a valuable member, who always brought smiles off the field, and always inspired his team members to fight when the chips were down.”
Rylands Cricket Club compete in the Western Province Cricket Association premier league.