A TEAM of cricketers from Harwich and Dovercourt are set to take on county stars to raise money for charity.

A trio of top-order names from Essex County Cricket Club will be at Harwich and Dovercourt Cricket Club, in West End Lane, tomorrow for a Twenty20 game to raise money for disabled opportunities charity Scope.

The Essex cricket stars – last year’s player of the year Tom Westley, swashbuckling Twenty20 record-breaker Graham Napier and Indian Premier League star Ryan ten Doeschate – have been called in because of the latter’s friendship with Dovercourt teenager Connor Simpson.

Connor suffers from cerebral palsy and has bonded with ten Doeschate after they met in Chelmsford several years ago.

Since that day, Ryan has kept in contact, sending cricketing merchandise from around the world, including shirts, helmets and bats from his career as a top travelling all-rounder.

Last year, he played for a Bliss XI against a Harwich side and is looking forward to returning.

Ten Doeschate, the Essex one-day captain, said: “On behalf of Tom, Graham and I, we are delighted to support Connor, Carl and Harwich and Dovercourt Cricket Club in their fundraising for a great charity, and hope to emulate last year’s success and help put on a great day and game for the community.”

The event begins at 5pm at the cricket club and will have a fully Twenty20 atmosphere with live music, a bar, bouncy castle, barbecue and a raffle.

There will also be an auction, including a shirt from England legend Alastair Cook. New Zealand skipper and international superstar Brendan McCullum, restaurant vouchers, champagne and other sporting memorabilia.