Keen fell walkers were caught out as they scaled Helvellyn last week – and found England’s highest cricket match taking place on the summit.
Players from Threlkeld, Keswick, Stainton and also Ambleside made up an 11-strong team representing the country’s third highest peak against a travelling side from Henley in Oxfordshire.
Eden and Lakes club men had been invited to take on the Henley XI to raise money and boost research into Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. This is an inherited condition, affecting muscles in extremities, and affects one of Henley’s players.
“We thought ‘why not?’; it will be fun,” Helvellyn XI captain Michael Webster, of Threlkeld, told the Reminder.
Even before the traditional start-of-match coin toss took place there were challenges for players. Between them they had to carry three 40kg sections of artificial wicket to the 950-metre (3,117ft) top, along with kit, balls and boundary markers.
“There was a scoreboard as well and we had umpires,” said Michael, whose team were comfortably first to reach the summit with their equipment and kit. “That was a moral victory!”
Helvellyn won the toss and fielded first with Henley posting a total of 143 in the 20 overs-a-side contest. “The boundary was 30m from the edge and there were people watching who were ringing the boundary. We did lose a few balls although they brought plenty!” said Michael.
“There were lots of walkers stopping, asking questions which was good for the guys raising money. A lot were just bewildered. It isn’t something to see when you’re on a pleasant walk!”
Although there was mist on top of the fell, the weather mercifully remained dry and there was little wind.
Threlkeld’s Ben Jefferson helped to get the home side’s reply off to a great start although progress stalled somewhat after a flurry of wickets.
Needing two to win from the final ball of the match, Helvellyn scored a single which resulted in honours being even. “Draws are rare anyway but it was pretty incredible that after three hours of play it came down to one ball,” added Michael.
“I think they (Henley) just thought they would roll us over, but they didn’t and nearly lost! It was just fun, a good laugh and nice to be involved in something different. Cricket was the winner but more significantly they’ve raised a significant sum for charity as well.”
By Wednesday, the total amount of money raised had passed the £14,000 mark.
“There’s no cure for CMT. However, the CMT Research Foundation are committed to raising funds to help treat and cure this terrible disease,” said a Henley spokesman.
To donate online, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/highestcricketmatch
