Monty Panesar is star attraction as charity cricket match target is hit for six

The much-anticipated charity cricket match between property consultancy Carter Jonas and design and build company COEL attracted around 500 people to Fenner’s, the Cambridge University ground.

Pre-game live music was followed by a welcoming address from co-hosts Colin Brown, from Carter Jonas, and Alistair Rumbelow from COEL.

The crowd also heard from representatives of the two charities they were supporting, with Paul Morrish representing LandAid, which works to end youth homelessness, and Neil Cook representing The Phoenix Trust, the Milton-based charity that helps people with learning disabilities gain valuable skills.

Star guest Monty Panesar, the former England spin bowler, kept the audience entertained as he answered questions from the compere, Richard Roberts, from Stace.

Beforehand Monty sat down with the Cambridge Independent and recalled playing at Fenner’s. “I played here about 20 years ago,” he said, “for Loughborough University against Durham in a final. We beat them! I think I played for British Universities versus New Zealand as well, and I remember chatting to [former New Zealand international] Dan Vettori in the pavilion – we had a really good chat about spin bowling. So I’ve got some really good memories from here.”

Monty – who excited the crowd by bowling at the start of the second innings – plays in veteran leagues around the world. “I’ve been busy over the last six months, in Doha, in Delhi in September as well,” he said.

The teams played the rapid T20 format and donned brightly-coloured shirts. It was a fiercely fought game which closed with Carter Jonas running out winners after scoring 165 in their innings, versus COEL’s 147.

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The afternoon had a festival feel to it with live singing, Cantab providing food and Fenner’s bar and the BrewBoard brewery selling drinks. Having set a fundraising goal of £10,000, the organisers confirmed that they smashed that target.

The event raised more than £9,000 through advance ticket sales and sponsors, which included The Cambridge Building Society, Howard Group, Grovemere Property, Green Building Design, The Good Plant Company, Wedd Joinery, Liquidline, First Intuition, BDB Pitmans, Ascot Lloyd, Cam Alarms, Ensors, Tees Law, Concilio, Howes Percival, Cambridge Industrial Properties, and Corporate Architecture Ltd.

More funds were raised through an online silent auction and a raffle. The firms said: “There have been a wealth of people and organisations whose contribution and generosity made the charity cricket game possible. It has been a very unifying experience and both COEL and Carter Jonas are exceptionally grateful to those who helped along the way.

“We are most appreciative for the warm response and are delighted to have been able to host an event which provided amusement, entertainment, a celebrity appearance with Monty Panesar and raised a great sum of money for two incredible charities, LandAid and The Phoenix Trust.”