A 13-year-old girl and a grade cricketer from Glenwood will now be able to tell their friends about they time got Brian Lara out.
The legendary West Indian left-hander threw the pads back on at old Kings Oval in Parramatta on Thursday, in a special 'Sayonara Brian Lara Event.'
The funds raised from the event will be used to support UWS Community Scholarships and create opportunity for students who may not otherwise be able to attend university.
Lara started the day by taking part in a friendly game with, staff, students and alumni of the University of Western Sydney.
Then 25 of the highest bidders had the opportunity to bowl two deliveries to Lara and attempt to get him out.
Among them were school kids, budding local cricketers, backyard cricket tragics and a few stars in the making.
Among them was 31-year-old Ben Drougas from Kings Langley, a backyard specialist, who described his bowling ability as 'awful'.
Nevertheless, he was confident of his chances of deceiving the great man with some leg spinners.
‘‘I’m going to try and throw him a wrong-un, that might freak him out," Drougas said before bowling.
To his credit, Drougas was on the money with his two deliveries and even looked to have Lara in a bit of trouble.
They even gave him a third attempt, which Lara promptly slogged straight to the ground for six.
"I had his number on the first two, but I probably shouldn’t have had a third," he said afterwards.
"It probably would’ve been a catch, if there was a fielder back there.
"I would have got him out and that can be claim to fame."
Others had more success, like Glenwood Redbacks paceman Abdul Qazizada, who had Lara caught down the ground from his second delivery.
How did it feel to get Brian Lara out?
"Amazing," he said.
"He’s one of the best ever, it was really exciting. I can’t believe I got him out, I thought I had no chance."
The man who took the catch, was Muneeb Rahman from Auburn, who took the catch with one hand.
In a cruel twist of fate, Rahman had a catch dropped when he got his chance to bowl at Lara.
Rahman said he was scared he might accidentally bowl him a full toss and knock him out.
Another bowler who was lucky enough to get Lara out was 13-year-old spinner Mishal Shah.
Shah, who is in a development squad for the NSW Breakers, fought her way back after being whacked for six, when she had Lara out stumped.
Shah said it was taking the wicket was a pretty cool moment, especially as she had just been hit for six.
Will she brag about it?
"I think my dad probably will more than I will," she said.
