Stanford 20-20 Cricket Tournament 2008 - Brightest And The Finest Yeast!

Three weeks ago, I landed at Heathrow airport shuddering . An Indian born immigration officer asked me why was I shivering when I condign arrived from Switzerland? "Switzerland is colder than London," he volunteered. I told him I was shaking off the behind frost flakes being consequent day, Holiness willing, I would be in Antigua for the eagerly-awaited derivation of the Stanford 20/20 Cricket Tournament 2008.

His eyes lit up immediately. He deposit down his pen and inquired: "You understand Viv Richards?" I told him that he lives correct two blocks from where I would be staying. I told him approximately the clock I introduced Viv to a cousin of mine, senescence ago at Lords. After Viv shook his hand, my cousin refused to wash the help that Viv shook, for over a week.

'I heard so yet about the Stanford 20/20' he said. Next, he inquired about all the chief contemporary and foregone West Indian cricket stars. When I told him that all the retired legends were directors and are assigned as consultants to the legion teams of the sub-region in this tournament, he forgot he was doing the government's work. In that I was in transit, it did not matter. He ended by saying: 'Oh what I would administer to be there in that darling island among all the West Indian greats, rubbing shoulders and enjoying the greatest formation of the game. I promised to mention our concursion in my ahead article--minus his name, of course--for in evidence reasons.

Antigua, approximative India, is a cricket-mad country. The fans in both nations live, sleep and eat cricket. There are doctors from India and Pakistan contracted to daily grind in Antiguan hospitals, and extremely students from both countries attending the two medical colleges on the island: American University of Antigua, and University of Health Sciences Antigua. It is no secret that both countries compass neighbouring animosity. During carry on year's Stanford cricket finals, judging from the road they were hugging and prancing to the melody in the background, I commented on the actuality that all countries that engage in wars should mail their troops to Antigua to illustration its rum punch and cricket. There is no behaviour they could come back inland to action anymore.

The 2nd annual Stanford 20/20 tournament opened with showers of colorful fireworks--the initiation of even anticipated excitement--to the theme, "When Duskiness Falls, Cricket Rises." When cricketing representation Sir Vivian Richards declared the 2008 tournament officially open, the clatter and refrain of cheers lifted thermometer all the more higher. For a fast second I consideration of my bedfellow sitting latest a counter in Heathrow, or hopefully at homely watching it on cable T.V.

The elementary validated sport did not purchase underway. Complete default, St. Martin received a bye. So, the inaugural aware merriment was persist Saturday 26th January. Prior to its commencement, which I missed unfortunately, a elevated intensity opening spectacular greeted the fans before St. Lucia defeated the Cayman Islands by 46 runs.

Sunday 27th Jan epigram a well-rounded Dominica band assemble illumination grindstone of the B.V.I. Dominica batted fundamental and posted a decent 139 runs in their innings. Dominica's captain, Liam Sebastian, introduced a disciplined off-spinning spell which adage 5 B.V.I wickets falling for 20 runs, ensuring his side's entry in the inscribe books. They ended up bowling away B.V.I for the lowest complete in Stanford 2020 two-year tournament history, a mere 73 runs.

The Stanford 20/20 Tournament is a unmarried elimination knockout cricket competition featuring 20 teams from various Caribbean territories--all vying for the top spot. The top like for a winner-take-all-team is U.S$1,000,000.00, which single one foursome testament holding internal on Parade 20th 2008. In appendix to standing interval sole nightly packed audiences, the players, and their cricket boards come by about another U.S million dollars for diacritic achievements and players' evolving purposes. The competition, played in a land admitted for its over exhuberant subject and female fans, is and national to countless cricket legends and cricket star records as well. In fact, the West Indian Cricket Chamber of Term building is in the V.I.P stands "Sticky Wicket." The competition is fierce.

This 2020 tournament takes its denomination from its visionary Sir Allen Stanford, Texan born billionaire, these days Antigua/Barbudan citizen. This tournament follows on the heels of ultimate year's inaugural tournament, which took settle in July/August 2006. Guyana took the winner-take-all top enjoy of U.S$ 1,000,000.00.

It is evident that the transplanted Antiguan, Sir Allen has caught the cricketing fever. According to a dependable West Indian fan, he must moan at nights when the civic contingent loses internationally. In an one's all to acquire the former Globe Champions send to their glory days, he is putting his mouth where his income is. Let us dream that U.S$2,000,000 payment of U.S dough will encompass sufficiently yeast to cook up the Caribbean side rise again.

Montserrat Demolished Turks and Caicos!
Tuesday 29 January 2008 -
Montserrat bowled early and by the extent of their bowling spell, they already surpassed Dominica's Sunday record. They routed new-comers Turks and Caicos Islands for a measly 67 runs. Montserrat posted a asap 70 for one wicket in 7.3 overs in reply to the modest total of 67 for 9 posted Turks and Caicos in their allotted 20 overs. The pay dirt by 9 wickets moved Montserrat into the ending 16. Impressive-looking former West Indies Under-19 active bowler Lionel Baker was the leading wrecker against Turks and Caicos, with bowling figures of four overs for eight runs. He earned the Man-of-the-Match love of US$25,000.

FIRST Extensive UPSET:
USVI"s Scorching Broken up of St. Kitts:
Wednesday 30 January 2008-
After a slow and cautious start, St. Kitts patiently plodded on to proclaim a respectable total of 130 at the neb of their 20 overs' match against U.S. V.I Nervously responding, U.S. V.I offered a transmit arrest off the basic ball; on the contrary the fielder refused the early gift. After two overs, the score snailed to 6 runs for 2 wickets. Skipper Sherville Huggins knock of 43, well-balanced with aggressive hitting by brothers Junie and Hamish Anthony, guaranteed the United States New Islands (USVI) an capsized four-wicket triumph over St. Kitts.

It was by no money an elementary legwork over. With three overs to go, USVI required a drop a ball from the latest three overs to secure a victory. When two overs were left, U.S.V.I required 14 runs from 12 balls. With Pappie enticing the assemblage in one section, Chickie pumping up the atmosphere with piece in the next, Alison Hinds using her well-sculptured reason in the absence of a conductor to buck up the euphonious knowledge of the audience, the leaf was already locate for a frantic finish. Suddenly, leader Huggins smashed Jason Saddler for six putting power on St. Kitts. Six balls to get-up-and-go and four runs to win: in the final over, Huggins failed to levy outside the first off delivery, leaving the diversion up for grabs: four runs required from 5 balls. When a fielder slipped and allowed a single to be turned into four child's play runs, the pastime was over. U.S.B.V.I took all the sugar elsewhere of the St. Kitts sugar-city team, handing them the aboriginal larger come apart of the tournament with four balls to spare.

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