England wicketkeeper/batsman Paul Nixon was the star attraction at the VRA Cricket Club in Amstelveen, Holland yesterday.

The 36-year-old Leicestershire skipper, keen on regaining his place in England's one day team for their upcoming winter tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand, led the Foxes to a nail-biting six-run win over hosts and Dutch champions VRA with a blistering half-century that helped lay the foundation for his team's narrow win in the well attended benefit match.

Nixon is presently raising money for two charitable organisations in the UK who were on the receiving end of a generous donation (5,000 euros) from his team's hosts who put up a good fight before falling just shy of what would've been a memorable victory against the English Twenty20 champions.

"We have two great charities. We have the Movers and Shakers of Parkinson's Disease and the reason why I got involved in that is because my mother-in-law has Parkinson's Disease and I have seen how much she has gone downhill since she's had it," Nixon explained.

"The other charity is an air ambulance that flies up into the mountains when walkers and people get injured."

Nixon stroked 50 off 36 balls during a pulsating innings containing eight boundaries before being stumped behind after skipping down the crease in pursuit of another boundary.

"I got my 50 and people had seen enough of me and so it was time for them to see the rest of the Leicestershire team, which they did," he smiled. "It was a great spectacle and a great game. It was a very good flat wicket and nice and low so that you could get on that front foot and hit through the ball. Even in Twenty20 cricket you have to get in and give yourself a chance, set your base and pick the areas where you would like to go for them (runs).

"And thankfully I was able to hit a few in the middle of the bat today, and loved every minute of it. It was a brilliant occasion."

Nixon also had the opportunity yesterday to renew his friendship with Bermuda's own Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock who played against the Englishman in a pre-World Cup warm-up match involving Bermuda and England in St.Vincent earlier this year.

"Leverock is a character in world cricket and we all need characters. Leverock is a great man and first and foremost a fine cricketer," said Nixon, who has scored 17 first-class tons during his career. "I think his personality shines through as well and he's a guy that everybody enjoys being around and the game is better having him involved in it."

When asked what advice would he offer to any up and coming cricketer, Nixon willingly replied: "The key is that you have to enjoy it and be prepared to listen to your peers because it's important to know your game.

"You have to know what you are good at and what you are not good at and obviously keep working on your strengths and weaknesess. But the key is to commit yourself to whatever you do 100 percent and always have a positive outlook."

Nixon enjoyed solid identical knocks of 42 against the Kiwis and Sri Lanka at the World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year. And if all goes according to plan he hopes to see further action against the same two teams when England embark on their winter tour later this year.

"I'm 36 but still passionate about the game and want to play. I'm still fit enough to play the game at the top level and so I will continue pushing for a spot in the England team for the winter tour," he added.

Nixon has appeared in 19 ODIs for England, but has never represented is country at the Test level having had to make way for others such as former England keeper Alec Stewart among others.

"It's all about timing in life and I was very unlucky, some might say, to have Jack Russell and Alec Stewart, who are both legends of English cricket there for many years," he said. "It's only one job for the country, and we all want that one job. But I've had a great test of it and hopefully this could be my time because it's great to be a part of an England set up."

Nixon was a member of England's victorious squad that defeated reining World Cup champions Australia to lift the Banks one day series shortly after surrendering the coveted Ashes Down Under earlier this year.

"It was great to win that series. Paul Collingwood stood up to be counted while the rest chipped in and it was amazing what we were able to achieve after being on such a low," the veteran wicketkeeper said.

"We started badly but got our acts together, changed the game plan and came out on top to win the series (one day). But you learn a lot in sport when you do badly, and that is the most important time to learn and a true test of character - and that is what we showed to come back andwin the one day series.

"And it was an honour to play against the Aussies in Melbourne and Sydney before 80,000 fans ¿ wherever we played it was a full house. To play before those crowds on those pitches against the best in the world and then get the nod to play in the World Cup was like a dream come true."