Hampshire Stars Turn Out For Charity

Hampshire cricketers helped raise almost £10,000 for two charitable causes by taking part in a friendly match against Hartley Whitney Cricket Club.

The money was raised for the Hampshire Cricket Community Trust and the Hampshire Autistic Society by the match, lunch and raffle.

The Hampshire Royals won the match by four runs as Michael Carberry top scored with 47, but only after Hampshire reversed their batting order.

They still managed to post 246 from their 20 overs but then used 10 different bowlers when Hartley Whitney came to bat.

Ray Cockram hit an unbeaten 31 and Scott Baldwin 23 not out to set up a tight finish but in the end the Royals prevailed.

Off the field, novelty items such as the opportunity to ring the bell at the England v India Test match in 2014 at the Ageas Bowl and a signed England cricket bat, were auctioned off to help raise funds for the two charities.

Community Trust Manager, Simon Fox, said: "People’s generosity knows no bounds in Hampshire and once again people have dug deep once again for two fantastic causes.

"I’d like to thank Peter Came, Terry Crump and the Trust fundraising committee who have been instrumental and tireless in their organisational and fundraising efforts. Without their dedication and help, such significant amounts simply wouldn’t be raised.

“I’d also like to thank USupport for their highly popular and very generous auction items as well as Hilton Hotel General Manager, Dominic Osbourne for his extremely supportive gesture of the first night experience.

"The Trust is going from strength to strength and that’s as a result of the phenomenal personal and collective support of the community-focused people of Hampshire."

© Cricket World 2013