The event, organised as part of Tamworth’s bicentenary, started off strongly with some high-profile politicians dusting off their kit and skills.

Tamworth regional mayor Col Murray bowled the first over to local MP Kevin Anderson, then it was vice-versa; an organiser saying Cr Murray scored more than 50 runs not out. 

Cr Murray said it “sure was a bit of fun”.

“Keeping up with the younger batsmen on the quick singles was painful on old knees, though.”

Cricket-a-thon co-ordinator Mike Cashman said “everything went smoothly, flowingly – then we ran into some problems” when players failed to show up for some school-player slots.

But late on Saturday evening, some surprisingly stylish support turned up.

“There were a lot of ladies and gentlemen all decked up in their finery for the 90^th anniversary of the North Tamworth Cricket Club,” Mr Cashman said.

“Fiddi Witts actually scored the 1000^th run.”

And in the wee hours, it was up to what Mr Cashman called the “famous seven”.

“From about 2am to 7am, it came down to seven of us just continuing to play cricket: one bowler, one batsman and a few on either side on the field,” he said.

“We were so tired [but] it’s amazing what the human psyche’s like when the sun comes up.

“We’re not nocturnal animals, so it was just beautiful.”

Being a McGrath Foundation Pink Stumps event, the players in the Milo cricketers’ time slot were rewarded with a pink hat and bandanna each.

“They all went home pleased as punch with that,” Mr Cashman said.

“There were some really good, skilful players in that bunch. Seven-year-old Chase Wilson, he is a real little star.”

Mr Cashman said he wasn’t sure why the event wasn’t better-supported but it could have been the many other events on in town or the predictions of rain.