HAMPSHIRE cricket stars will descend on the village of Hartley Wintney tomorrow for a money-spinning charity match.

The cricketers will travel to north Hampshire for what has become an annual game between a Hampshire XI and Hartley Wintney at the picturesque ground.

It is a great chance for fans to see some of the county’s stars in action and, as in recent years, a bumper crowd is expected to turn out to enjoy the game, which starts at 2pm.

If previous matches are anything to go by, the 40-over contest will see the ball sent to every corner of the classic village green setting.

In previous years, this match has been a Hampshire benefit game for a Hawks player, but as the county have no beneficiary this season, the money raised from the contest will be split between three local charities – Multiple Sclerosis Society (Island and Hampshire branch), Maple Ridge School in Basingstoke, which is a special needs school, and The Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.

Two Hampshire players past and present have a vested interest in the charities. Middle-order batsman John Crawley’s chosen charity is the MS Society, while former Hawks star and Basingstoke-based cricketer Shaun Udal’s nominated charity is Maple Ridge School, which his son Jack attends.

Udal, who will be dashing back from Lord’s, where his Middlesex side are playing Surrey, to be at the ground in the evening, said: “It is always a fantastic day at Hartley Wintney, both for the fans and the players, and we are looked after so well.

“Maple Ridge is obviously close to my heart because of Jack and I am looking forward to meeting everyone when I get down there.”

Last season, the Hawks scored 384 from their 40 overs, which included a century from Michael Lumb.

In reply, Alex Sciarretta did likewise for the village side as the home side fell seven runs short of their target, finishing on 377.

An added bonus for the fans was that Freddie Flintoff turned up at the game, which was his former Lancashire teammate Crawley’s benefit match.

Organiser Bob Jeavons-Fellows said: “Last year proved a great success with an auction raising £12,000. I hope this year is just as successful as it would be nice to raise a good sum of money for the three charities.”

After the game at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire will travel north for their Friends Provident Trophy semi-final with Lancashire on Sunday at Old Trafford.

Udal will also be there working for the BBC and believes his former team have a great chance of making the final.

He said: “Playing in Lancashire’s backyard is going to be difficult, but Hampshire are playing good cricket at the moment, having just made the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup. And I am sure Dominic Cork would love to get one over on his former teammates at Old Trafford.”