Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram and other greats raise money for Australian bushfire relief - in pictures

Ten-over match between Ponting XI and Gilchrist XI in Melbourne raises Aus$7.7 million

Former West Indies star batsman Brian Lara, left, and India's Sachin Tendulkar during the Bushfire Cricket Bash T20 match at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday. The campaign raised Aus$7.7 million (Dh18m) for bushfire relief. AFP

Pakistan great Wasim Akram, right, shares a laugh during the Bushfire Cricket Bash T10 match between the Ponting XI and the Gilchrist XI at Junction Oval in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Ricky Ponting congratulates Wasim Akram during the Bushfire Cricket Bash match in Melbourne. Getty Images

Wasim Akram bowled two overs during the Bushfire Cricket Bash T10 match at Junction Oval on Sunday. Getty Images

From top left, Courtney Walsh, Wasim Akram, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Yuvraj Singh, Peter Siddle, Brad Haddin, and below left, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden in Melbourne. AFP

Brian Lara made 30 for Ponting XI against Gilchrist XI during the celebrity charity match to raise funds for people affected by the Australian bushfires in Melbourne. AFP

Brian Lara was one of the many legends in action during the Bushfire Cricket Bash 10-over match in Melbourne on Sunday. AFP

Adam Gilchrist bats during the Bushfire Cricket Bash match between the Ponting XI and the Gilchrist XI at Junction Oval. Getty Images

Brett Lee bowls picked up two wickets during the Bushfire Cricket Bash match between the Ponting XI and the Gilchrist XI at Junction Oval. Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar played one over against Australian women's cricketer Ellyse Perry during the inning break of the Bushfire Cricket Bash in Melbourne. Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar picked up a cricket bat for the first time in five years in Melbourne on Sunday. Getty Images

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden bats during the Bushfire Cricket Bash. Getty Images

Sachin Tendulkar with Ellyse Perry during the Bushfire Cricket Bash at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Getty Images

Some of the greatest players in the history of the game came together to raise funds for those affected by the bushfires that have ravaged Australia, during a charity match in Melbourne on Sunday.

West Indies great Brian Lara, Pakistan's Wasim Akram, West Indies' Courtney Walsh, and Aussie legends Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden were some of the big names who featured in the 10-overs-a-side match at the Junction Oval.

For the record, the Ponting XI scored 104-5 and restricted Gilchrist XI to 103-6 to win by one run. Lara was in vintage form, scoring an unbeaten 30.

But it was not about runs or wickets. The main aim was to raise money and help communities devastated by the bushfires.

Cricket Australia announced that the match was a grand success, managing to raise Aus$7.7 million (Dh 18.8m).

For the players, however, there was the added bonus of playing with their contemporaries one more time.

During the innings break of the charity match, India's Sachin Tendulkar – who was coaching the Ponting XI – played one over against Australian women's cricketer Ellyse Perry. Tendulkar said he had picked up a bat for the first time in five years.

"All the players have had a ball. They are all saying why couldn't we play more," said Ponting. "Well done to everyone involved."

The bushfires have left at least 30 people dead, decimated wildlife and destroyed thousands of homes, with the situation brought under some control on recently after torrential rain swept across eastern Australia.