SWINDON Cricket Club’s charity game has been hailed a success after sides captained by Jon Lewis and Hamish Marshall played out a thrilling draw.

The County Ground played host to the End Polio Now T20 match, which was put on in conjunction with the Swindon Old Town Rotary Club and raised around £10,000 for the charity.

Former New Zealand international Marshall led a Gloucester select XI, which included former Swindon Town midfielder Michael Doughty, against Lewis’ Swindon select XI as they posted a target of 173 in their 20 overs, with George Hankins top scoring with 54.

Jake Goodwin made 40 in reply but Swindon required 50 off the last five overs before Douglas Baartman hit a quick-fire 36 to cut that to 15 needed off the last over.

Will Nichols hit a six off the penultimate ball but was caught off the final delivery as the match ended in a tie.

Swindon Cricket Club vice president Richard Deacon said: “I haven’t got the final figure of what we have raised but I think it will be approximately £10,000 and I can’t really thank people enough for what they have done.

“Both Hamish Marshall and Jon Lewis have been really great supporters of both Swindon Cricket Club and Swindon Rotary club to make this event happen.

“I would like to thank our main sponsors, Arkells Brewery, Richard James, Impact Planning Services, Bluefin Insurance, GWE Business West, and I suppose I can’t get away from the fact Deacons was involved.

“On top of those, a lot of other companies and individuals who donated raffle prizes and the umpires Tony Horn, the district governor of Rotary, and Richard Rendell.”

Marshall was playing in what will be his last charity cricket game in Swindon, having supported the event for a number of years, as he is set to return to New Zealand at the end of the summer.

“I am happy to give a little bit back to charity,” he said.

“We have all played at different levels and I have certainly played at club level over my career and we have always had games like this.”

Meanwhile, Swindon-born Lewis, who is assistant coach at Sussex, was happy to give up his Father’s Day for the cause.

“It is a worthy cause and a serious cause and we are trying to raise as much money as we can to go towards ending polio,” he said.

“If we can do our part then that is great for the cricket club and Swindon Rotary.”