Kent cricketer and 2008 county beneficiary Matt Walker made an emotional return to the Bat & Ball Ground in Gravesend on Monday for a fundraising ‘homecoming’ game between a Kent XI and Walker’s Gravesend select side.

The match, which was the brainchild of Gravesend Cricket Club stalwart Rob Lister, attracted a crowd of over 300, over a hundred of whom also enjoyed a benefit hospitality day including lunch with the players.

On the field the Kent side, skippered by Martin van Jaarsveld, posted a good total of 219. Then Gravesend, who named former club and county players Simon Hinks (Kent and Gloucestershire, Gareth Breese (Durham) and Simon Willis (Kent) in their number, just fell short in the run-chase at 190-8 with Walker top-scoring with a fluent 70.

Walker said: “It was quite an emotional day for me if I’m honest. I spent so many days at the Bat & Ball as a kid watching my dad Richard play for the club, and it’s also where I first started to play and where I had my first nets.

“To go back for the first time in a while made it a very special day for me and my family. It was great to be back amongst so many friends.

“The turn-out was amazing, not just from the players but from the Gravesend public too.

“I must thank Rob Lister for all his help organising it and to all those who turned out for me on the day. Although the day was for me, I’d like to think it was a great day for the Gravesend club too. It was great to see 50-colts’ players enjoying their day and to see the clubhouse buzzing again.”