Day 13 - GAME DAY

Breakfast early as the pitch was re-laid - we had had warnings of people stealing/ruining the pitch to stop the game - and final medical checks were undertaken. With everyone receiving a clean ill of health, it was time for team selection, and telling those people who would miss out on the starting eleven.

Russell volunteered over breakfast not to be in the starting team, aware that he'd not contributed as much as others. Woodsy was also understanding, and I hoped that he'd just be happy to ave made it to Gorak Shep after earlier talk that he may not be able to join us on the expedition.

The hardest call was Blade. For 15 minutes I sat with Blade and told him how my selection had come about, in the hope that he'd appreciate my rationale. I'm not sure that he did, but in the end, he was understanding of the situation. When we left the UK, Blade was in the starting lineup. However, one of the team, who had been a solid contributor in the lead up to the trip, really excelled himself on the mountain. It was really tough to leave Blade out, and it was an agonising decision to make.

I filled in the team sheet and announced the team to the full squad. We changed and went outside prior to the toss. Working to satisfy photographers, documentary crew and umpires, we posed before Haydn tossed the coin. Firm in the belief that 'Tails never fails', I called and won it. We'll have a bat. I later learned that Tenzing would have bowled anyway, which means that they either fell for our bluff, or saw something in the pitch that we didn't.

At 9:38am, Dave Kirtley and I strode to the crease. Dave was off the mark early, and once I was on strike to Blinky, the nerves started to kick in. I kept out the first ball, and clipped the second off my pads. As it flew through the air, I noticed Mark Waters running around to take the catch. I had come all this way for a second ball duck?

To my surprise (and gratitude) he dropped it. We saw off the first few overs, with Dave cracking some boundaries, while I looked decidedly scratchy. Waters came on to bowl, and I hit his first three balls for 16, so started to feel a bit more comfortable. Dave Christie trundled in, and while most balls kept low, one popped and caught the edge, only to be dropped by G-Man and gully.

We got through to drinks at 7 overs, with the score on 69. Dave approached 50, and with the score 82 for none, faced up to Toovey. Somehow, Toovey snuck through and bowled DK for 45. Cuzzer had missed a no-ball. I was then bowled by G-Man for 28, swinging across the line, but Kiwi and Simmo came together to take the score into the 130's. Some tight bowling from Tooves, DC and Butler slowed the scoring and got a couple of wickets. We ended the innings on 151-5, a competitive total.

The hour long lunch break gave us a chance to get some food and fluids in, before we took the field to defend our total. Opening up with CCTV and BJ, we were soon amongst the wickets. Waters and Wes hit out a little, but we soon had Waters back in the pavilion. Wes continued to frustrate and I got a finger to an early lofted drive, so I was worried it would cost us.

I continued to rotate the bowlers and sub-fielders, and more wickets came as we took control. Chris and Tom both chipped in, but 3-for from CCTV had the game in our hands. Our fielding was sharp, and when Julio combined with Simmo for a great run out, we knew we were on top in all departments.

It was left to me to make the final act, as I charged in off three paces to a waiting Mike Preston. A swing and a miss and thought I was in. The next ball, same shot, 6! Seeking revenge, I trusted the number 11 not to do the same again (successfully), and bowled him.

Tenzing all out for 116. Team Hillary had won by 35 runs.

The celebrations began, and were interspersed in the next hour by speeches, photos and champagne. Eventually, as the mist rolled in and the sun faded away, we headed inside to drink the night away. It was a huge night, and I finally made it to bed at about 9pm - EPIC.

12 months of planning. Not knowing any of the team before this began, and taking on such a huge challenge, it had all come to fruition. We'd won and I'd led my team, Team Hillary, to victory in the highest ever official sports match. Twenty20 at Gorak Shep, Nepal.

While I'd thought about it for so long - and had dreamt of leading my team - I never really thought we'd get there, play so well and win. Still now, it is hard to wipe the grin off my face. Unreal - I am a world record holder. And the winning skipper at that!!

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Thinking back and reading this now, it doesn't seem to do it justice. For something to be such a huge part of your life for 12 months, a real focus of every day, and then be over, is simply surreal. Never before had any of us done something quite so magnificent - ordinary people doing extraordinary things - it was an amazing achievement.

While Team Hillary celebrated, I took a moment to think about the people who had got me where I was and who had inspired me to throw everything at this. I know that they were with me all the way up the mountain and played a part on game day. I also thought for Haydn and Team Tenzing, who had invested as much as my boys had, but had not had the result go their way. Some took it harder than others.

In the end, all of the Zingers came down to our teahouse, and joined in the celebrations - after all, the result was less important than the achievement. In particular, I was impressed with two of the most competitive Zingers being the first to walk through the door and congratulate us. Vice Captain Gareth "G-Man" Lewis, and abrasive Australian Nick Toovey. For the duration of the expedition, these two were always there to keep morale up, and the post-match was no different. We drank into the night, champagne, beers, scotch - 50 friends celebrating taking their place in history. It tasted pretty good.