THE CRICKET season may have ended weeks ago for most teams, but a village club had held one last hurrah on Saturday and literally lit up the night sky.

High Easter Cricket Club, just south of Dunmow, staged its most ambitious project ever by hosting a Twenty20 match under FLOODLIGHTS at their tiny countryside ground.

Over 150 people turned out with the club making �900 profit, and chairman Gary Cheveral was delighted with the way things went.

“It was a great occasion,” he said. “I would like to thank everybody who turned up to watch and the many sponsors needed to hold such an ambitious event.

A presidents’ eleven, including ex-England international Jason Gallian, narrowly lost to a High Easter eleven in a thrilling game full of slogs, sweeps, catches and wickets.

High Easter batted first and managed 189 for 8 of their 20 overs, with W Mahmood scoring a rapid 53 before retiring.

In reply Gallian led the way for the presidents, with 75, before being stumped by young Connor Cheveral, his side finished on 171 for 9, just 18 runs short.

Also, during the interval, youngsters got to experience the floodlit atmosphere as an under 12s game took centre stage.

Mr Cheveral added: “Both games was enjoyed by all and the young players all received a medal and got an individual signed picture taken with Jason Gallian to take home. We cannot thank him enough for coming along.”

The money will be put back into the club and help with pavilion renovations after the rood collapsed during the middle of last winter.

It is believed that High Easter is the first village club to ever host its own floodlit cricket match.