Supporters enjoyed the opportunity to watch stars from different sporting arenas in a full day’s event at the home of Leicestershire County Cricket.
Tigers scrum-half Harry Ellis, Sky TV commentator Miles Harrison and international referee Chris White were among the players testing themselves with bat and ball in the opening game as a Lord’s Taverners XI faced the Matt Hampson Foundation XI.
The game ended in a tense draw before players from both squads combined to take on a Tigers side led by Craig Newby.
Former England captain Mike Gatting was joined by County favourites Paul Nixon and Phil Defreitas, BBC Radio Leicester’s former cricket professional Charles Dagnall and Tigers legend Tim Stimpson – who was in big-hitting form with the bat – for the in setting a target for Newby and Co to chase.
Toby Flood, Manu Tuilagi, Thomas Waldrom, Anthony Allen, Matt Smith, Sam Harrison, Kieran Brookes and Ryan Bower were among the Tigers line-up, with second-row Joe Cain claiming the prize wicket of Gatting, thanks to a smart stumping by hooker Rob Hawkins, and Scott Hamilton receiving one of the biggest cheers of the day with a thrilling boundary catch to dismiss Defreitas.
Despite the distraction of George Chuter’s commentary, Tigers stuck to the task and Smith was among the batsmen to hit some good form before skipper Newby – at the wicket with last man Brookes – struck the winning runs on an entertaining day.
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