Twenty-Twenty Fever

Okay, here we are again, with Summer finally threatening to settle in, and T20 fever taking hold. Well, perhaps not fever exactly – maybe more of a runny nose and niggling headache – but back to it we certainly are.

The adventure began (okay, adventure may also be a bit strong – I must cut down on my hyperbole) with what might be considered a pre-season friendly, against those white-ball specialists, and dodgy-umpiring specialists, the Geneva Sri Lankans. Following Saturday’s stunning declaration victory for OCLTC, we knew they would be fired up to gain revenge in Sunday’s T20 against our PWCC incarnation. So, we took to the field, clad in the famous blue nylon, steeled for a tough contest.

John, and Sabha in particular, helped us to a strong start, the latter making 30 in 23 deliveries, and Raghu later added 31 (n.o.) in 25 as we posted a creditable 149. After lunch, we put in a strong bowling and fielding performance to limit the Genevans from the off. They mounted a late rally through batters eight and nine but Kazim most notably, with 5-23, had done the damage and when John removed number eight for 27 it was effectively game over, their innings finishing on 117. It was a pretty dominant performance against an experienced side. Perhaps it was connected to the fact that there was only one eyebrow-raising umpiring decision this time (seasoned players against GSLCC may well be able to guess who was standing at that particular point). Not relying on lbw is important at times.

With that preparation, we were able to approach the start of the Portuguese League the following week with confidence when we welcomed Coimbra Knights and Miranda Dragons. Knights were first up, with some familiar faces (and familiar voices!) back again. I was struggling with rather severe conjunctivitis so at times was simply peering through my fingers and groaning pathetically, meaning that some of my observations may be a little vague. However, I do remember Knights’ Stubbsy claiming loudly that, despite being sixty later this year and being a few (ahem, a few??) kilos overweight, he was out-running all his younger team-mates. I can only assume that my benighted eyes missed all of that exertion.
Anyway: the game. Despite the uncharacteristic early loss of John, we got onto the front foot, Sabs again taking control with 34 from 19 balls. Solid contributions followed from Anthony (15), Jon Guni (29), Premal (35) and Louis (18) before the tail offered a series of brief cameos in T20 slash-and-burn fashion to add some final runs, leaving us with a strong 182-8. A glance at the Knights’ bowling figures shows how difficult it was for them to contain us, and how unforgiving this format can be for bowlers. In response, they struggled from the off, the first wicket falling to Preet with the score at just one after ten balls. Apart from a brief mid-innings rally they were never in it and the contrasting PWCC bowling figures illustrate the dominance (stand-outs: John Z 7-3 off 4 overs – econ. 1.75; Raghu 4-2 off 2.2 – econ. 1.71; Louis 2-2 off 1 – econ. 2.00). Knights were all out for 69 after 15.2 overs, and that was with us donating a top-score-equalling 18 extras.

After lunch, we faced Miranda Dragons who had been warming up whilst we sipped wine and port. Well, let’s face it, we know which approach to match preparation is best, don’t we? In my poor, afflicted state, I could only manage a single glass of wine, so I was wisely deemed unfit to bowl, to bat only at the end if needed (I wasn’t) and to field at midwicket.

Dragons batted first and made a steady enough start, however we were fielding tightly and bowling carefully (and Anthony had an over, but we can skirt over that!), with the result that they found it hard to kick on, with wickets falling at regular intervals and each time before batters could really settle. In the end, we restricted them to 121-7, Preet taking the bowling honours with 3 wickets for 16 runs. Anthony chose to give John a little rest after his first-match disappointment, dropping him to number three, but Sabha was having none of it, getting himself run out on the first ball so that John could, in effect, open again. His selflessness opened the door for John to top score with 33, building 68 with Anthony before the latter fell for 27 after 7.4 overs. The platform was there and the total was quite rapidly chased, Guni adding 14, Prem 10 and Passi 17 (including a single!). 122-6 after 16.2 overs.

What a great start to the competition it was. There were some excellent performances in all areas and it would be hard to select an overall player of the day, and if it might not be entirely accurate to say that T20 fever had broken out, certainly the level of sweating induced by our beloved kit resembled that caused by an outbreak of malaria.