AN Ipswich cricket club is well on the way to funding a new electronic scorebox.St Margaret's Cricket Club, who play at Ransomes Sports Ground in Sidegate Avenue, are hoping to have the new scorebox in place for the start of the 2007 season.

AN Ipswich cricket club is well on the way to funding a new electronic scorebox.

St Margaret's Cricket Club, who play at Ransomes Sports Ground in Sidegate Avenue, are hoping to have the new scorebox in place for the start of the 2007 season.

The club have used a board on the pavilion as a scoreboard since the original scorebox was blown away in the 1987 hurricane.

Chairman Norman Atkins has written to former and current members requesting donations and has so far received around £1,700 - about one third towards the cost.

Atkins, who has been involved with the club for nearly 60 years, said: “All contributors will be included in a visible acknowledgement design yet to be agreed with our former scorer/engraver Brian Peck, on the scorebox itself.

“This will be a permanent reminder of the many people involved with St Margaret's Cricket Club since its formation in 1948.”

The club, which runs three teams at the weekend, were selected last year as one of the top 100 clubs in the country to deliver the 'Chance to Shine' scheme - a government initiative to bring cricket back into state schools - in Ipswich.

It is hoped that as a result the club will run under-11 and under-15 sides this season in addition to their under-13 side.

The Ransomes ground has been used to host Minor Counties Championship matches on behalf of Suffolk for many years and this season the county will face Staffordshire there on June 24, 25 and 26.

Anyone wishing to make a donation towards the scorebox should send a cheque made payable to St Margaret's Cricket Club to Norman Atkins, 7 Meadowvale Close, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 4HE.