Over 200 people attended the match on Saturday, September 16, which was played to raise vital funds for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research.

The match was tight all day, with the result not decided until the game’s final delivery.

Organiser James Terry said that despite the rain, the event was a “great success”.

“I was immensely proud of everyone,” Terry said. “The community support we received, and the awareness we raised for MS; I was totally blown away.

“The weather played its part a little bit, but we forged on.”

This was the second running of the event, which has grown since the inaugural event last year in Bathurst.

Terry said that last year’s event raised over $4500, but expects that figure to be smashed this year.

“Our initial target figure was $10,000,” he said. “Our early calculations show that we’re going to blow that figure out of the ballpark.

“We’ll be over the $12,000 mark, possibly even more with the money that’s still coming in.”

The match has already received more than $13,000 in donations, and Terry said the money will be going directly to MS research.

“It goes to the doctors, medical professionals, researchers and universities that are fighting MS,” he said.

According to MS Research Australia’s website, a donation as small as $60 will help purchase 100 cryotubes used to freeze the blood or DNA of a person with MS.

$1000 will help support an early-career researcher for a week, while $5000 can stock a research lab with crucial tissue-culture materials for an entire year.

Terry said the feedback from the event was overwhelming, and hoped that next year’s event will be even bigger.

“We’re going to debrief on this year’s success, then put plans in place for next year,” he said.

“The verbal feedback was really overwhelming. We had so many people from the community thank us for putting the event on to raise awareness and money.”

And the event has had some international interest.

“I’ve had friends and family from places like the United Kingdom and New Zealand donating to the event,” Terry said.

For more information about this fantastic cause, or for instructions on how to make a donation, visit https://kissgoodbyetoms.org/fundraiser/2nd-annual-ms-charity-cricket-match-cavaliers-old-boys-vs-st-pats-bathurst/.

Scores

Cavaliers Old Boys 1st Innings: 8/122 from 20 overs.

Jim Perry 50 no, Matt Favetta 20

J.Webber 3/9

St Pats Bathurst 1st Innings: 8/88 from 20 overs

S Hall 27, N.Broes 22

Matt Ryan ¾, Matt Favetta 2/4

Cavaliers Old Boys 2nd Innings: 8/124 from 20 overs

Rhys Voysey 32, Pat Moore 27

Matt Furnley 3/10, N.Broes 3/9

St Pats Bathurst 2nd Innings: 6/156 from 20 overs

N.Broes 40, B.Mitchell 34

James Terry 1/7