A charity cricket match that saw a team of business leaders take on a side of sporting veterans at Alderley Edge Cricket Club on one of the hottest days of the year raised £10,000 for disadvantaged children and young people.
In a thrilling match played in heatwave conditions on Friday 26 June, the Sticky Wicket XI, made up of Cheshire and Manchester business leaders and captained by BusinesCloud executive editor Chris Maguire, pulled off a final-ball victory over the Wooden Spoon All Stars XI, which included cricketing, football and rugby legends.
The Topaz Celebrity Cricket Match, organised the rugby children’s charity Wooden Spoon in aid of the Cheadle Hulme-based Seashell Trust, was played in the game’s T20 format, with batsmen retiring after scoring 25 runs.
The Sticky Wicket XI won the toss and elected to bat first, notching up 151 runs in their innings. Their leading run scorers included Justin Blackhurst, founder of Digital Next, who hit his first ball for six and was dismissed for 24, and Alex Hind, co-founder of Heka, and Jack Williams of RSM, both of whom scored 25 before retiring.
In Response the All Star XI put in a determined performance and the match hung in the balance until the last gasp. However, the Sticky Wicket XI’s bowling attack proved too strong, with Oliver Gaydon, associate director at Better Placed, taking two wickets (including that of the former Manchester United star Andy Ritchie) in successive balls at the death.
The All Stars needed 13 runs off the last two overs, and nine off last over, bowled by Blackhurst.
In a rollercoaster finale, the ex-Sales Shark star Steve Hanley hit the first ball of the final over for four before retiring hurt. Celebrity XI needed 2 runs off the last ball but wicketkeeper Tom Dulson came to the Sticky Wicket XI’s rescue, hitting the stumps direct to secure a one-run win.
Alex Hind, for the Sticky Wicket XI, was named Player of the Match.
The event, which attracted around 200 guests, was held with support from Topaz Detailing, McLaren Manchester, Rolls Royce Motor Cars Manchester and Art VR.
It began with a champagne reception and three-course lunch, followed by a charity auction, with the cricket match itself taking place from 3.30pm.
Roger Smith, chairman of Wooden Spoon Manchester & Cheshire, said, “This was our seventh Celebrity Charity Cricket Match, and what a day it was! I would like to thank everyone who attended and took part, not just for their time and generosity but also for braving one of the hottest days of the year to turn out and raise so much money for a fabulous cause.
“I would also like to extend a special thank you to our sponsors and corporate supporters and, of course, our hosts, Alderley Edge Cricket Club.”
The Sticky Wicket XI consisted of: Chris Maguire, executive editor, BusinessCloud; Alex Hind co-founder/CEO, Heka; Simon Lord, managing partner at Arete Capital Partners; William Purser, co-owner/director, Battersby Sports Ground Supplies; Jack Williams, RSM; Justin Blackhurst, Founder and CEO, Digital Next; Adnan Miakhel, star of the BBC’s Field of Dreams; Oliver Gaydon, associate director, Better Placed; James Crisall, founder, Manchester SEO; Ibby Akram; Tom Dulson (WK); Mark Stanbury (12th man).
The Wooden Spoon All Stars XI included the ex-Manchester United, Leeds and Oldham player and manager Andy Ritchie, and the former Sale Sharks, England and Irish rugby union players Tommy Taylor, Steve Hanley and Will Addison.
Ex professional and First Class cricketers who took part included Tom Mees, formerly of Warwickshire, and the England over-40s star James Duffy, who will be playing in the World Cup in Guyana later this year, as well as a number of players from Cheshire, Lancashire, Australia and South Africa.
