Hillary V Tenzing: Cricket on Mount Everest?

Two British cricket teams made history as they donned their black and pink uniforms, trekked to Gorak Shep and played a game of cricket for charity. Team Hillary (in black) and team Tenzing (in pink) played a short form Twenty20 version of the game on the sandy plateau located at 17,000 feet above sea level, close to base camp of Mount Everest.

The teams, named after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first men known to climb Mount Everest, made the grueling 9-day trek to play the game on a frozen lake near the Khumu glacier. The world’s highest match was held for a good cause…to raise funds for the Lord’s Taverners, a cricket charity for young aspirants, and the Himalayan Trust, UK, that was set up by Hillary to aid the Sherpa community that helped him scale Mt Everest in 1953.

Teams were aided in their ascent by grounds men, medics, spectators, and eight reserve players…according to PA Sport, ‘team Hillary beat team Tenzing by 36 runs with six balls remaining after locals helped prepare the pitch by moving stones, pebbles and rocks — sometimes with pickaxes’.

Team Hillary captain Glen Lowis: “It has been truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life, I cannot thank all of the people involved enough.” The teams were expected to raise close to $400,000 for the cause.

As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com