April 21st - Team Hillary, 152-5 (Kirtley 45, Waters 2/32), bt Team Tenzing, 116 (Waters 23, Campbell 3/23) by 36 runs.

Today Team Hillary claimed an historic victory over Team Tenzing at 5165 metres above sea level, the win being sealed when captain Glen Lowis bowled fellow kiwi Mike Preston.

The ECB recognised Twenty20 match, raising money for The Lord’s Taverners and The Himalayan Trust UK, was of a higher standard than many people expected with the winning margin being 36 runs with just eight balls remaining.

Hillary went off to a terrific start, after winning the toss and batting Lowis and Cardiff CC captain David Kirtley put on 82 for the first wicket, with Kirtley striking four sixes on his way to a 34-ball 45, the top score of the day.

He was removed by Aussie spinner Nick Toovey and Hillary wobbled in the middle order as Cheltenham CC skipper Will Simmons and Lowis fell in quick succession. Some lusty blows from Chris Palmer and Charlie Campbell helped Hillary to a competitive total of 152 for 5. The pick of the bowlers for Tenzing being Mark Waters who claimed 2 for 32 from his four overs, particularly impressive after his opening three deliveries went for 16.

In reply Tenzing struggled as Man of the Match Campbell removed Harlow captain James Butler LBW for a duck before Ben Jarman bowled Chris Beale with one that kept low. Waters and Gareth Wesley then led the recovery, each striking 23 and bringing Tenzing back into the game.

A foolish run out meant the end of Waters before Wesley was also bowled, this time by the medium pace of Tom Sharland. From then on it was an uphill battle for the home side and when Palmer bowled the only two maidens of the day, the required rate crept above 10 for the first time.

Campbell returned in the 15th over and produced two beauties to remove captain Haydn Main and David Christie for a second ball duck, finishing with figures of 3 for 23. From there the game was up despite Toovey, vice captain Gareth Lewis, and Preston smashing a few boundaries between them.

The last word was appropriately left to Lowis, who on the Queen’s birthday emanated his countryman, Sir Edmund Hillary, in achieving a first on the slopes of Everest as he led his side to victory in the highest ever game of cricket.

The Everest Team