England test and one-day captain Alastair Cook was part of the Essex Eagles side which took on Wanstead Herons in a Twenty20 match as part of a benefit event.

The 29-year-old, who plays his county cricket for Essex and has scored more than 8,000 test runs for England, spent the day at Wanstead’s Overton Drive to help raise money for four charities of his choice.

A strong Essex side included the likes of Ravi Bopara, Monty Panesar, James Foster, Tymal Mills, Reece Topley and Nick Browne took on Wanstead, who are Essex T20 champions.

The hosts were however able to call upon the services of Kishen Velani - who also plays for Essex.

The visiting Eagles won the toss and elected to bat first with Bopara and Browne opening the innings.

Batting at number four, Cook came to the crease to partner Foster, and the pair helped push the Eagles’ total up to 163 from their 20 overs.

The Herons’ response got off to a slow start when John Chambers and Mahesh Velani were both removed cheaply. However, an explosive innings from K. Velani went some way to steadying the innings.

It was K.Velani provided the undoubted highlight from a Wanstead point of view, hitting Panesar for four consecutive sixes to keep the Herons run-rate up and leave the hosts in with a shout of claiming the win.

In the final over, Wanstead were left requiring six for the win, with youngster Joe Ellis-Grewal shouldering the responsibility. Captain Cook also took on the responsibility of keeping the Herons and bay and in a dramatic over, did just enough with the ball to see Essex to the win.

Earlier in the day, Cook was joined by Wanstead and Essex pair Foster and K.Velani for a coaching session with the club’s junior section.

The trio put on an interactive Kwik Cricket session for more than 100 of Wanstead’s junior cricketers between the ages of five and 11. Cook, who has played more than 100 test matches for England, then answered questions, posed for photos and signed autographs.

In the evening, Cook spoke about his four charities, in particular the David Randall Foundation - named after a close friend and passed away at the age of 26 through cancer.

The Daily Mail’s cricket correspondent, Paul Newman, then chaired a question and answer session to round the day off.