| Three weeks ago, I landed at Heathrow airport | | | | only nightly packed audiences, the players, and their |
| shivering. An Indian born immigration officer asked me | | | | cricket boards receive about another U.S million dollars |
| why was I shivering when I just arrived from | | | | for individual achievements and players' development |
| Switzerland? "Switzerland is colder than London," he | | | | purposes. The competition, played in a land known |
| volunteered. I told him I was shaking off the last | | | | for its over exuberant male and female fans, is also |
| frost flakes because next day, God willing, I would | | | | home to many cricket legends and cricket world |
| be in Antigua for the eagerly-awaited start of the | | | | records as well. In fact, the West Indian Cricket Hall |
| Stanford 20/20 Cricket Tournament 2008. | | | | of Fame building is in the V.I.P stands "Sticky Wicket." |
| His eyes lit up immediately. He put down his pen and | | | | The competition is fierce. |
| inquired: "You know Viv Richards?" I told him that he | | | | This 2020 tournament takes its name from its |
| lives exactly two blocks from where I would be | | | | visionary Sir Allen Stanford, Texan born billionaire, |
| staying. I told him about the time I introduced Viv to | | | | now Antigua/Barbudan citizen. This tournament |
| a cousin of mine, years ago at Lords. After Viv | | | | follows on the heels of last year's inaugural |
| shook his hand, my cousin refused to wash the hand | | | | tournament, which took place in July/August 2006. |
| that Viv shook, for over a week. | | | | Guyana took the winner-take-all top prize of U.S$ |
| 'I heard so much about the Stanford 20/20' he said. | | | | 1,000,000.00. |
| Next, he inquired about all the major current and past | | | | It is obvious that the transplanted Antiguan, Sir Allen |
| West Indian cricket stars. When I told him that all the | | | | has caught the cricketing fever. Like a true West |
| retired legends were directors and are assigned as | | | | Indian fan, he must moan at nights when the national |
| consultants to the various teams of the sub-region in | | | | team loses internationally. In an attempt to have the |
| this tournament, he forgot he was doing the | | | | former World Champions return to their glory days, |
| government's work. Since I was in transit, it did not | | | | he is putting his mouth where his money is. Let us |
| matter. He ended by saying: 'Oh what I would give to | | | | hope that U.S$2,000,000 worth of U.S dough will |
| be there in that pretty island among all the West | | | | contain enough yeast to make the Caribbean side |
| Indian greats, rubbing shoulders and enjoying the | | | | rise again. |
| greatest form of the game. I promised to mention | | | | Montserrat Demolished Turks and Caicos! |
| our meeting in my first article--minus his name, of | | | | Tuesday 29 January 2008 - |
| course--for obvious reasons. | | | | Montserrat bowled first and by the end of their |
| Antigua, like India, is a cricket-mad country. The fans | | | | bowling spell, they already surpassed Dominica's |
| in both nations live, sleep and eat cricket. There are | | | | Sunday record. They routed new-comers Turks and |
| doctors from India and Pakistan contracted to work | | | | Caicos Islands for a measly 67 runs. Montserrat |
| in Antiguan hospitals, and also students from both | | | | posted a quick 70 for one wicket in 7.3 overs in reply |
| countries attending the two medical colleges on the | | | | to the modest total of 67 for 9 posted Turks and |
| island: American University of Antigua, and University | | | | Caicos in their allotted 20 overs. The win by 9 |
| of Health Sciences Antigua. It is no secret that both | | | | wickets moved Montserrat into the final 16. |
| countries have neighboring animosity. During last | | | | Impressive-looking former West Indies Under-19 fast |
| year's Stanford cricket finals, judging from the way | | | | bowler Lionel Baker was the main wrecker against |
| they were hugging and prancing to the music in the | | | | Turks and Caicos, with bowling figures of four overs |
| background, I commented on the fact that all | | | | for eight runs. He earned the Man-of-the-Match prize |
| countries that engage in wars should send their | | | | of US$25,000. |
| troops to Antigua to sample its rum punch and | | | | FIRST MAJOR UPSET: |
| cricket. There is no way they could return home to | | | | USVI"s Scorching Upset of St. Kitts: |
| fight anymore. | | | | Wednesday 30 January 2008- |
| The 2nd annual Stanford 20/20 tournament opened | | | | After a slow and cautious start, St. Kitts patiently |
| with showers of colourful fireworks--the beginning of | | | | plodded on to post a respectable total of 130 at the |
| much anticipated excitement--to the theme, "When | | | | end of their 20 overs' match against U.S. V.I |
| Night Falls, Cricket Rises." When cricketing icon Sir | | | | Nervously responding, U.S. V.I offered a return catch |
| Vivian Richards declared the 2008 tournament | | | | off the first ball; however the fielder refused the |
| officially open, the noise and chorus of cheers lifted | | | | early gift. After two overs, the score snailed to 6 |
| thermometer even higher. For a quick moment I | | | | runs for 2 wickets. Captain Sherville Huggins knock of |
| thought of my friend sitting behind a counter in | | | | 43, together with aggressive hitting by brothers Junie |
| Heathrow, or hopefully at home watching it on cable | | | | and Hamish Anthony, guaranteed the United States |
| T.V. | | | | Virgin Islands (USVI) an upset four-wicket win over |
| The first official game did not get underway. Through | | | | St. Kitts. |
| default, St. Martin received a bye. So, the first live | | | | It was by no means an easy walk over. With three |
| game was last Saturday 26th January. Prior to its | | | | overs to go, USVI required a run a ball from the last |
| commencement, which I missed unfortunately, a high | | | | three overs to secure a victory. When two overs |
| intensity opening spectacular greeted the fans before | | | | were left, U.S.V.I required 14 runs from 12 balls. With |
| St. Lucia defeated the Cayman Islands by 46 runs. | | | | Pappie enticing the crowd in one section, Chickie |
| Sunday 27th January saw a well-rounded Dominica | | | | pumping up the atmosphere with music in the next, |
| team make light work of the B.V.I. Dominica batted | | | | Alison Hinds using her well-sculptured body in the |
| first and posted a decent 139 runs in their innings. | | | | absence of a conductor to encourage the musical |
| Dominica's captain, Liam Sebastian, introduced a | | | | participation of the audience, the stage was already |
| disciplined off-spinning spell which saw 5 B.V.I wickets | | | | set for a frantic finish. Suddenly, captain Huggins |
| falling for 20 runs, ensuring his side's entry in the | | | | smashed Jason Saddler for six putting pressure on St. |
| record books. They ended up bowling out B.V.I for | | | | Kitts. Six balls to go and four runs to win: in the final |
| the lowest total in Stanford 2020 two-year | | | | over, Huggins failed to put away the first delivery, |
| tournament history, a mere 73 runs. | | | | leaving the game up for grabs: four runs required |
| The Stanford 20/20 Tournament is a single elimination | | | | from 5 balls. When a fielder slipped and allowed a |
| knockout cricket competition featuring 20 teams | | | | single to be turned into four easy runs, the game |
| from several Caribbean territories--all vying for the | | | | was over. U.S.B.V.I took all the sugar out of the St. |
| top spot. The top prize for a winner-take-all-team is | | | | Kitts sugar-city team, handing them the first major |
| U.S$1,000,000.00, which only one team will take home | | | | upset of the tournament with four balls to spare. |
| on March 20th 2008. In addition to standing room | | | | |