Cricketers play on Kilimanjaro to set new world record

DAR ES SALAAM: IN 2014, a group of international cricketers has set a new world record for the highest-ever match by playing at the top of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, in Tanzania. The teams included former South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and ex-England spinner Ashley Giles.

The game was played at a height of 5,730m (18,799 ft) in a flat crater just below the summit. They played 10 overs each of a Twenty20 game before clouds stopped play. “This is absolutely incredible! We are playing cricket on the summit of Africa!” Giles tweeted on Friday morning.

The current record for the world’s highest game is 5,165m, played in the Himalayas at Everest base camp in Nepal in 2009. The “Gorillas” team, led by England women’s vice-captain Heather Knight, scored 82-5 to beat Giles’ “Rhinos” team, who managed 64-9, the AFP news agency reports.

Teams:

Gorillas:

Raymond Lebokana (Alexandra Township Chiefs), Phil Walker (editor, All Out Cricket magazine), Heather Knight (captain; England vice-captain), Liam Breedveld (wicket-keeper), Hugo Worsley, Rob Barry, Christopher Fenton, Jonathan Worsley, Clare Connor OBE (former England cricketer), Jane Van Marken, Shripal Shah. 12th man: Melinda Kocsis.

Rhinos:

Ashley Giles MBE (captain; former England cricketer), Robert Moloisane (wicket-keeper; Alexandra Township Chiefs), David Harper, George Jerram, Simon Rogers, Makhaya Ntini (former South African cricketer), Matthew Weihs, Ben Norrington, Steven Smith, Phil Fordham, Tess Norrington. 12th man: Edward Haines. 13th man: Rebecca James.

Umpires:

Aliya Bauer and Jennifer Pettinger